TWO POINTS DROPPED RATHER THAN ONE POINT GAINED

Millwall 1-1 SAINTS

I HAVE had a bad feeling for a while that Saints will just miss out on the play-offs, Saturday's draw at Millwall intensified it.

Saints broke the deadlock in injury time and were minutes from a vital win at The New Den - only to conceed 30 seconds later.

They may have taken at the New Den having been on the back foot for much of the game.

If Saints held on for the win, it would have put them nine points off the play-offs. Now Pardew's side may be worrying that they may have too much ground to make up, especially as their involvement in the FA Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy will make for a hectic fixture schedule.

The scalp of Millwall would have been huge psychologically and acted as a catalyst for their play-off push.

Too many more draws will leave Saints running out of the points needed for that elusive sixth place.

PATIENCE REMAINS THE KEY...

It was a long time coming, but Southampton picked up their first win of their League One campaign on Saturday.

This came after I read an interesting and philosophical blog from the Daily Echo.

Football fans are extremely fickle and Simon Carter regretfully underlines the situation is no different at St. Mary's. Writing last week, Carter condemned the minority of Saints fans who were already calling for the end of Alan Pardew.

Carter said "fans should remember that clubs in League One aren’t a bunch of jokers and Saints have no divine right to beat the likes of Brentford and Stockport."

Even if Saints didn't beat Yeovil on Saturday, Pardew should be nowhere near the end of his tenure at St. Mary's, and Carter's article still stands.

In the cold light of day, Pardew hardly had a pre-season with Southampton, eight new players have been brought in to try to get Southampton back on it's feet, not forgetting their 10-point penalty for entering administration in the summer. It was never going to be easy.

However, amongst all these teething problems, we must stop feeling sorry for ourselves and build on Saturday's win.

READ SIMON CARTER'S SAINTS FC BLOG

WOTTE TURN AROUND!

Much to my delight, new Southampton manager Mark Wotte seems to have given a flailing side a new lease of life...and some points to go with it. Nine out of nine in fact.

Saints are struggling financially, which in recent seasons has taken its toll on the field. Jan Poortvliet decided to deal with this problem by disregarding the more experienced players with higher wages, almost without exception. The goalkeeper, Kelvin Davis, and defenders Chris Perry and Rudi Skacel were the only first team regulars from last season that Poortvliet picked on a regular basis earlier this season.

But Mark Wotte has been less stubborn since taking over at St. Mary's in late January. He seems to have found a balance between youth and experience in the side by recalling the likes of Jason Euell and Marek Saganowski from a loan spell at Brondby in Denmark. He has also reverted back to using the 4-4-2 formation - which was out of the question under Poortvliet - and it has reaped its rewards - especially at home.

Here's how Saints picked up three wins on the spin in their last three games...

Saturday, 21st February: SAINTS 3-1 Preston

Three first half goals were enough to secure Saints only their second home win of the season.

Andrew Surman opened the scoring after 19 minutes by placing home from close range after Marek Saganowski laid the ball into his path.

Saganowski made it 2-0 ten minutes later following good build up play by Adam Lallana and Simon Gillet. The Pole latched home ruthlessly from the edge of the box to give Saints a strong lead at the half time whistle.

Ross Wallace pulled one back for Preston 17 minutes from time, but a strong Saints back line headed by Chris Perry and new signing Jan-Paul Saeijs held out.

Saturday, 28^th February: SAINTS 1-0 Cardiff City

Saints ended Cardiff’s 13-match unbeaten run to strengthen their fight against relegation.

David McGoldrick converted an 11^th minute penalty after Cardiff’s Mark Kennedy was adjudged to have handled a Jason Euell cross.

Saints’ keeper Kelvin Davis pulled off a magnificent one-handed save from Cardiff striker Paul Parry in the first half.

The Bluebirds tired towards the end after their midweek cup clash with Arsenal and Saints managed to hold on to a vital three points.

Mark Wotte: "I am very proud of my team and the way they have been fighting for each other in the last few weeks."

Tuesday, 3^rd March: Ipswich Town 0-3 SAINTS

A resurgent Saints side dominated play-off chasing Ipswich to pick up their third win in a row.

Jason Euell headed home his first goal of the season from an Andrew Surman free-kick shortly after a Jan-Paul Saeijs header was disallowed.

Saints had another goal disallowed in the second half after Chris Perry had tapped home from a Simon Gillett corner in a game where 3-0 flattered Ipswich.

Euell took full advantage of a defensive error calmly netted his second with five minutes to play. Late substitute Matt Paterson fired in Saints’ third shortly after as David Norris lost possession for The Tractor Boys in their own half.

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Southampton are still two points from safety with their relegation rivals also picking up form at the right time.

They face a tough away day tomorrow at second-placed Birmingham City, but there is renewed hope at St. Mary’s following recent performances under Mark Wotte.