Hopes take hit as Saints caught in doldrums

"What if?" was the prevailing sentiment around St. Marys this evening, as Saints were held to a costly draw by a run-of-the-mill Derby side

Saints 1 - Derby 1

Still far from safe, Saints entered their tenth-from-last game of the season knowing that nothing other than three points would be enough. Saints fans' hopes may have been artifically inflated by their recent wins but with time running out, tonight was an ideal opportunity to push on. However, in a tightly contested game Saints could not deliver the performance required, providing a result which piles on the pressure for Saturday's fixture against QPR. There is still hope, but a similar failure then really would send Saints into the wilderness.

Saints goal - which came, luckily, via a Derby defender - raised hope of an undeserved win, but the visitors were able to level minutes from time. They remain in touching distance of their rivals, and still have a game in hand, but tonight's was not a game to inspire confidence. The most worrying thing, in view of the fact that a win - however undeserved - would have lifted them marginally away from the trouble, was the nature of the performance. The lack of flair and passion displayed in such an important game explains the boos that came at the final whistle and the deep sense of frustration that rancours amongst Saints fans tonight.

Disappointing afternoon leaves reds feeling blue

After the party, the hangover. Saints' restored hopes of survival were offered a significant wake-up call this afternoon, other results leaving them entrenched in the bottom three as they slumped to defeat at St. Andrews by a single goal.

Birmingham 1 - Saints 0

Saints' amazing run of late had to end at some point, but the manner of the Blues' win will leave them feeling some regret that they could not salvage a point. The only goal came in stoppage time at the end of the first half during a tepid affair in which Saints failed to create the chances that have characterised their recent performances. Wins for Derby, Blackpool and Watford add a further shade of grey to a poor afternoon and mean it is now even more crucial Saints pick up at least four points in their upcoming brace of home games if they are to stay in touch.

COYRs

Bloody Hell! Survival bid steps up a gear in East-Anglia

Saints made it three out of three on Tuesday night, apparently blessed boss Mark Wotte describing their 3-0 demolition away to Ipswich as one of the best nights in the club's history.

Ipswich 0 - Saints 3

Three on a bounce has been an unheard of feat for Saints recently (last achieved under Burley in 2006) and the result gives another significant boost to hopes for suvival. Though other results again went against Saints - they still lie two points adrift of Blackpool - the side's mounting confidence has got rival teams looking over their shoulders going into the run-in. A tricky trip to St Andrew's follows tomorrow, but subsequent home games against QPR and Blackpool provide massive chances for Saints to kick on in their bid for survival. And let it not be forgotten that these three wins have come against top-half opposition; proof that it is all about form - and not necesarily class - in this division.

With more unsavoury reports in today's papers coming as an untimely and unwelcome distraction to the players, this unlikely survival bid could come off the rails at any time. But at the moment, anything seems possible - expressed perfectly by Jason Euell's brace on Tuesday night. On the pitch, things appear to be consistently going Saints' way for the first time this season- let us hope it can continue tomorrow.

Crikey! He does know Wotte he's doing

The worst thing about relegation in 2005 was the hope that preceded it. After a miserable season, there were moments towards its end that suggested survival was possible, that we could repeat the miraculous escapes of the 90s. The death-knell sounded by Ruud Van Nistelrooy's cruelly simple headed goal on that fateful May day was all the harder to bear given the previously reborn dreams.

Today's victory against promotion-chasing Cardiff served two purposes: it secured their first back-to-back wins all season; and it rekindled hope that survival is possible after months of despair had led to the death of hope. If Saints are to disappear into League One this season, this result will make it all the harder to take. For hope is reborn.

Saints 1 - Cardiff 0

Make no mistake, relegation is still odds-on for Saints this season. A series of excellent results for their fellow strugglers means they are still three points adrift. However, Mark Wotte has achieved twice in three games what Jan Poortvliet could only manage once in fourteen. His home successes have offered Saints fans the tantalising prospect of survival and the oh-so-dangerous taste of hope. If he can continue in this vein, Saints' seemingly inevitable descent into footballing oblivion may yet be averted

In the event, David McGoldrick's tenth minute penalty proved enough to separate the sides. With reports in today's papers suggesting Saints have a 50-50 chance of going into administration in the next fortnight, this brace of results may have come at just the right time to rally the club into reversing their apparently bottomless fall.

It seems perverse to take such pleasure from a team that has dispensed misery in such volume this season but I am guilty of such perversion tonight. I admit to being excited about the forthcoming dog-fight, a good old tasty relegation battle to infuse the senses and rally the troops.
I know there is pain to come (maybe much of it) but I will enjoy the highs while they come and forget the broader toils of the club. All we have is now, and now is the time to fight for the red and white, the time to get behind the boys - now is the time for hope.

YES! Surprise win rekindles hope of greatest escape yet

It is a terrible indictment on Saints' season that yesterday's home win against promotion-chasing Preston felt miraculous- but after just one home win all season this result was a real surprise. After midweek results had left Saints six points adrift of safety, many fans had given up hope of survival. But if Mark Wotte's young side can continue in this vein, the last thirteen games could prove very interesting indeed.

Saints 3 - Preston 1

Delivering the goals that Mark Wotte has been calling for this week, a Marek Saganowski double added to Andrew Surman's strike to leave Preston three behind at half time. Season-ticket holders at last had something to cheer about after a miserable few months and the side, to their credit, were able to play out the second half (the only blip coming with a late Preston goal). Survival still seems unlikely, but with Nottingham Forest now well within Saints' sights, another home win against Cardiff on Saturday will get them right back into contention.

After another fan protest before the match heaped more pressure on Rupert Lowe and the Saints board, this result at last gives fans something to smile about. A decade after Marian Pahars fired Saints to safety, could the Great Escape 2009 be back on?

Another matchday, another defeat Saints can ill-afford

Saints slipped to another costly defeat yesterday, unable to break through the defences of an average Bristol City side. Given City's impressive record against the Championship's lesser sides this year, this result will have taken few by surprise. It will come, however, as another massive blow for Mark Wotte's dwindling hopes of salvaging survival in the final quarter of a wretched season.

Bristol City 2 - Saints 0

Saints had some chances and the final result was by no means a fair reflection of the game - the second goal came in stoppage time after Kelvin Davies came up for a corner - but that will provide no comfort for Saints fans who saw their side slip to five points adrift of safety. With thirteen games left, Saints now have to win in their upcoming home games against Cardiff and Preston or relegation, already a likely prospect, will be almost nailed-on.

Saints slump further in the bleak, bleak midwinter

Saints' slim survival hopes took a further massive hit tonight, as Mark Wotte's side crashed to yet another woeful home defeat against Sheffield United. Coming on the back of an average point against Swansea at the weekend, Saints fans, who have suffered long this season, were offered no sign of the end in sight on another horrible night at St Mary's.

Saints 2 - Swansea 2
Saints 1 - Sheffield Utd 2

Having played a game more than their rivals, Saints now lie three points adrift of safety. Andrew Surman's ninetieth minute leveller offered hope, but a lame Saints outfit could not even hang on for a point, with Jamie Ward punishing an exposed back line in stoppage time. Again, the side lacked width and penetration and could not capitalise upon the first-half dismissal of Darius Henderson to secure their second home win of the season. Whether that will ever be secured is now a matter for serious debate, as "home advantage" has only applied to Saints in oxymoronic terms this season.

The appointment of Mark Wotte looks more misguided than ever and, unless he can pull off what would now certainly constitute a miracle, the pain looks likely to continue down into League 1 and financial oblivion. It is a wonder that supporting the same club can provoke such contrasts of joy and misery within just the space of a few years. Another record-low league crowd attendence - which cannot be blamed upon the snow - again demonstrated how fans have lost faith in the side. As Rupert Lowe prepares to take the club to their second relegation in four years - and the previous regime is far from blameless - he must be wondering whether football is really worth it. It is a thought he would have in common with thousands of Saints fans tonight.