Mark Hughes team selection smacked of desperation, but it almost worked out, almost but not quite.

The team sheet made interesting reading ahead of the clash with Manchester United, it was all change at the back and I have to say that when a manager starts picking players wholesale who haven't been near a place in the starting line up for weeks, it can tell you a lot of things, mainly that he is desperate and out of ideas.

But the problems at the back didn't change, appalling defending cost us dearly once again after a great start.

The scoring started on 13 minutes, Nathan Redmond went on a great run that saw him beat several players and bring the ball from the touchline into the penalty area arc, he laid the ball to Obafemi who in turn found Stuart Armstrong who fired home.

Seven minutes later it was two as Cedric put in a free kick from distance that Le God himself would have been proud of, at this stage Saints looked a different side than the one a week ago at Fulham, but sadly the game followed a similar path as a week ago and again it changed course in a brief period just before half time.

The BBC website blamed Yoshida for a half hearted challenge that allowed Marcus Rashford to pick out the unmarked Lukaku who fired home, then it was Rashford again who rode several challenges and should have seen his cross blocked instead of finding Herrera who cleverly flicked the ball past McCarthy.

What this showed was that it may be different defenders but i was the same old poor marking and a failure to be first to the ball too often.

The good news though was Saints didn't crumble they dug in and made sure that it didn't become another embarrassing defeat, Lemina was immense in the midfield winning the ball and refusing to be bullied, Nathan Redmond seemed to be at the heart of everything going forward and Obafemi and Valery played without fear and had the enthusiasm that youth can have in a football team.

We can take several things from this game. firstly we do have the players, we just haven't been playing them right, two weeks ago Stuart Armstrong was being hailed as a failure and one of the examples of por recruitment that cost Les Reed his job, in the last two games he has looked the bargain of the season if he can keep it up.

Secondly our central defenders are not up to it and haven't been for over two years, our downturn started when we failed to replace Jose Fonte and has continued, if Hoedt is not the answer then neither are Yoshida and Jack Stephens and perhaps Vestergaard who at least should be given the opportunity and may yet like Armstrong start to prove his critics wrong, but at the back we get caught napping too many times, both United goals should have been prevented, they say the first yard is in the head when you are a good defender, ours are too slow to react in either mind or body and this is a big problem that needs proper money spent on it in January.

But one point is better than none and it provides hope going forward, Unted may be in turmoil themselves, but they are still better than all but five of this division and in that respect this was a good point.

There is still a long way to go this season, in other seasons 9 points at this stage would see us well adrift, but the reality is we are within one win of 14th and if we could have held our leads against both United and Fulham we would be sat there this morning four points above the drop zone.

But we aren't and we can't change that, what we can change though is the season going forward, for me the answer is simple in January if we sign an experienced central defender who can lead from the back in the way Fonte did, then we stay up with ease, if we don't we will keep on letting in soft goals due to lapses in concentration.

It is easy to rant on social media about how bad the club is and make cheap jokes, but that helps nothing, this result can be built on, it has to be built on !

Photo: Action Images

SaintBrock added 12:25 - Dec 3 Credit to Cedric not only for his great free kick but also doing everything he could to be involved in attacks when obviously way out of position on his wrong foot. I agree with others that Valery showed promise but against a more committed opposition than Man U at the moment would have been run ragged. Think Hazard, think novice. He has potential but those who think he is already first choice over Cedric need to book an appointee with a shrink! Wednesday evening against Deli Ally might well provide some balance to opinion. People are also blind-sided by Obafemi's inclusion. He is not ready and clearly so and did nothing special for us than any of the other striker options we have at the moment. Phil Jones had him in his pocket all afternoon and the lad just does not yet have the experience or cunning to break free from such shackles. Not sure he ever won a ball up the middle or held it up long enough to influence play. All of us love to see Academy players coming into the team and doing well but the minute fans put expectations on their young shoulders their development is hindered by their own self doubt when things don't go well for them. Bring them on gently and give them time. Occasional appearances will reap better rewards than chucking them in at the deep end before checking that they can swim.

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