It is hard to say anything great about this game, but we have to face facts about the position we are in and try to find the positives and build from them.

This was a game of two teams in turmoil, Saints played with fear, Newcastle played with the freedom of a team who have given up hope so they just might as well give it a go, the truth was neither way was good enough.

From a Saints perspective we have to forget the result and take the positives, it was another clean sheet and the visitors did not get even a single attempt on target, however we did not do much better and that is a sin.

So what is the issue, I am beginning to think it is one of the manager failing to motivate the squad, there just wasn't that spark in the side, even Newcastle had a spark, but we still held them comfortably but failed to really put them to the sword.

First issue is the managers part in this, the starting line up wasn't the real issue, not many supporters would have picked a different starting XI with the exception of Hojbjerg and a partner for Danny Ings, but the side looked completely without leadership and motivation.

Even the bench was strange, two central defenders on it for a home game ? it stank of the manager trying to keep both Yoshida and Vestergaard happy, not of something we really needed, if we had a second defender then surely it should have been Targett who offers something defensively and going forward, or perhaps even Steven Davis,, if he isn't going to get a game in this one then when is he.

But the substitutions were also baffling, Gabbiadini on for Austin with 25 minutes to go was a predictable change, however when your one tactic is to get men down the line and cross it in, then Gabbiadini is not your man, perhaps better to play Long.

That change happened with only 12 minutes left, how Elyounoussi stayed on the pitch that long I will never know, he showed the odd flash of skill, but in the second half he was mainly a passenger, he should have been first off.

When the final double change happened, we did look a better side, Ward Prowse got the ball down and used it and Long hustled in a way that had been lacking, but it was too little too late from the bench and the manager seems to be losing the plot.

But we are still not in a desperate position due to other sides being worse, however we cannot rely on that, something has to change and fast, playing at home is now a millstone round the neck of the players, they are scared to play football, they do the simple things so the crowd don't get on their back, as I said Newcastle players were not scared, they were willing to have a go, but they were not good enough to damage us, we could cope easily and this was Alex McCarthy's easiest game in a Saints shirt.

Something has to change, over the last two years we have sucked ourselves into negativity, there is an atmosphere around the club that will lead to only one route and that is relegation.

Some of the criticism has been justified a lot of it hasn't been at least not until now, we need to take a leaf out of the Toon Army's book, did they give their hated owner stick and there is an owner who deserves it, yes they did, but they made ir perfectly clear they were still behind the team and the manager, that enabled them to play without the crowd on their back and that is what we need.

I don't feel we are going to get it though, too many people seem to be almost happy to at last be proved right.

I have no problem with our supporters having a gripe, what I object to is the scatter gun approach to create what is now a negative blame culture, to some the club is rotten to the core, Gao is pilloried because he hasn't spent any money, Krueger is pilloried but most don't know what for, whereas the the true issues are lost in the wave of Krueger/Gao/Reed out hysteria, you want to see a club in turmoil off the pitch then Newcastle are it, our issues go little beyond issues with signing decent players and appointing a good manager, but hey at least we aren't a selling club now !

We March On because we have to, we have to create a siege mentality, be proud of the club get behind the team, I'm sick of people ranting in the pub after the game and on social media, I would rather see the ship go down with all hands on manning the pumps than demanding the Captain be sacked because they didn't buy a ticket to see a hole in the ship.

If you truly care about it that much if you truly think the club is rotten from top to bottom then do something about it, I and others did so 25 years ago, so this isn't the Ugly Inside telling fans what to do, It's the Ugly Inside telling you what WE DID DO !

This was a poor game, I see people claiming it to be the worst game ever played at St Mary's and that the great relegation fighting teams of the 90's were not so gutless, bit of memory loss here, all of those last minute escapes were last minute for a good reason and that was we were awful for the first 30 odd games of the season.

This is nothing new I have seen far worse games than this one both at St Mary's and The Dell, what is different though is the fans, back then we backed the club through thick and thin on the pitch and stood up to it unified off it.

The atmosphere in the stadium is down to the supporters, like Newcastle did you can either turn negatives into positives or let it drag you all down.

At the moment it is the latter !

Photo: Action Images

1970 added 19:53 - Oct 29 The numpties running/ruining our club couldn't give a monkey's what we are saying they have a business plan/model and they know no different, if they suddenly had to produce what we were promised which was a football identity they wouldn't be here, I would think if you spent a couple of hundred mill on a football club you would definitely get your own people in at top level, you would also naturally change things you didn't like, these things haven't happened because the overall objective is exactly the same (skim those profits boys) between one owner and another and the next will be the same, the amazing thing is gao thinks if he adds a few new pie stalls and a bar we will all overlook there grand schemes, well what next ? why would a self acclaimed innovative company that claims to always strive for new ideas give a new 5 year deal to a 65+ year old les reed, there is something very wrong with that however good he is, I hope we win soon coyr. .

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ToastSFC added 19:57 - Oct 29 Bring back the multi ball system and in swinging corners
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AmericanSaint added 02:52 - Oct 31 So I, like many of you, are searching for answers as to why we are in the state we are. I watched the game with an open mind and from what I saw, I think the following: 1. Ryan Bertrand should not be captain. he shows no passion. I think that Hojberg is the future and needs the arm band. 2. Lemina finally had a good game and actually rand/played defense. His consistency is the issue. 3. Austin and Long need to be sold in january to anyone who will buy them. We need to take that money and add 20Mil to buy another striker. Start to use Gallagher. One of you said it perfectly, our strikers/midfield are not making the right decision at the critical moment. Gabbi blasting from 35yds out is perfect example of the issues. He could have passed left to Redmond but didnt. He must be thinking that the only way he will get game time is to score. Or Eluy taking a shot instead of passing it to Austin to a tap in on the 7 min. These example is indicative of the "me first" versus "team first" and that comes to hughes and bertrand. Finally, I noticed that the guys are not talking to each other on the field. So many times inthe games did someone stop the movement of the ball from one side to the other to go back to the same side for no reason. THEN only after the ball is lost or kicked out of play does someone say something. A little to late for that. That game was there for the taking and we couldnt seal the deal. We have nobody willing to carry the team and say "follow me" and out strikers couldnt hit the broad side of the barn right now. There must be a curse hovering over St. Mary's and someone needs to get a seance to remove it. COYR onto ManCity.

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underweststand added 20:37 - Oct 31 Not a lot different - was it. Still no goals. Charlie missing chances he would have put away two seasons ago........ Danny Ings had a poor day, but at least he does have a few goals to his credit this season. Gabbiadini is getting worse - isn't he ? I do feel sorry for him -and Us. Shane Long showing us yet another way NOT to score a goal. Another clean sheet , and that may be down to Jack Stephens revival of form. I know he missed afew chances to score , but he did look as if he was trying. Another two home points lost....and onto Man City. Strangely enough we put on two good displays against them last season - only to lose in the 96th minute of both games. A change of luck is overdue. If (by some miracle) we do get all 3 points ..Mark Hughes will get a contract extension. Not sure if I 'm ready to see that.

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