Saints halt haemorrhage with victory at the Keepmoat

Saints managed to halt the bleeding yesterday with a confidence-boosting win away to fellow Championship strugglers Doncaster Rovers. The result was Saints’ second league win in eight games and was especially important coming just four days after an embarrassing midweek League Cup exit against Rotherham.

With Saints averaging a point a game so far this season there are few causes for optimism, but this result at least sees them enter October outside the relegation places. After the midweek misery of Millmoor- where a dire Saints performance was further marred by another injury setback for Michael Svensson- it was difficult to see where Saints' next win was coming from. Doncaster were the hot favourites going into this game but this is not the time for Saints fans to feel embarrassed; the team needs them more than ever this season if they are to retain their Championship status.

Rotherham 3 - Saints 1 (L.C)
Doncaster Rovers 0 - Saints 2

The less said about Millmoor the better, suffice to say that a poor Saints side (despite being close to a first choice eleven) was out-fought and out-thought by their League 2 opposition. Goals from Nick Fenton and Danny Harrison put Rotherham in the ascendancy before Stern John got one back with a screamer on the hour mark. But Carling Cup glory was put beyond Jan's side nine minutes later as Drewe Broughton got the South Yorkshire side's third, forcing Saints into an ignominious Carling Cup exit.

Few were expecting much from Saints' second trip to Yorkshire in a week, and an unsurprisingly scrappy game was decided by two second half goals. That Doncaster were dispatched by an own-goal and a penalty says it all really, but that does not diminish the importance of the three points. There was not much class on display from either side as a Matthew Mills own goal was added to by a Drew Surman spot-kick to seal the game. That the latter failed to add a third after winning a second penalty did not prove costly in the end and Saints were able to enjoy their return journey south this time. Though Saints again were let down by some chronic defending and again had Kelvin Davies to thank, they will be hoping to build on this game with a second consecutive win at home to Norwich on Tuesday night. COYRs.