Davis - 8: Flawless with what little he had to do. Good in the air, alert to shots from distance and tidied up well at the back, he even showed decent distribution. Job done, now what about the rest of you?
James - 5: With Saints failing to get on top in midfield, Lloyd was pushed back and while solid in defence, had little opportunity to push forward and provide his usual decent delivery into the box. His tenth yellow of the season means he misses a match, but who else do we have that can play right back?
Saeijs - 7: What a find for a club with no money. His calmness at the back and bravery in the air are reminiscent of Claus Lundekvam at his best, plus he can run the ball out of defence. Went up front late on to try and force an opening, but by then it was too late.
Perry - 6: Solid, unspectacular and a perfect foil for Saeijs, sweeping up behind him and using all his experience to be in the right place at the right time.
Skacel - 7: Not an eye-catching performance, but a vital one. Tasked with keeping the dangerous Routledge under wraps, their duel was a fascinating battle between Routledge's pace and trickery and Rudi's experience. Timed his tackles well, kicked him a couple of times for good measure, he was impressive in defence, but unfortunately too busy to get forward in attack.
Lallana - 4: What has happened to the free-dribbling talent that set the Championship alight at the start of the season? He did his best to win tackles, but frequently bounced off opponents and failed to make up for it with his attacking play. Didn't do enough with it on the rare occasions he got on the ball, he missed a glorious chance in the second half on when jinking his way to the penalty spot only to scuff his shot wide.
Gillett - 7: Just the kind of battling player we need in a relegation scrap, his industry was not matched by many of those around him. Gravity-defying in the air and tigerish on the ground in the tackle, he held his position well to allow those around him to do the fancy stuff. They didn't.
McGoldrick - 5: Starting to get found out at central midfield after a honeymoon period in the role, he looks uncertain of where to be and what to do. Did make some good tackles and promising runs, but too infrequently to make any real impact. Was too far back to link with the strikers with those behind him insisting on pumping high balls to the strikers.
Surman - 4: Like Lallana, another player looking short of confidence. His delivery was poor, passing only average and the less said about the shooting the better, as for the second game in a row he missed a glorious chance to win it, scuffing his right foot shot into the ground just yards out. No lack of heart, but maybe needs to swap with Skacel while he gets his confidence back.
Euell - 5: There to do the donkey work up front, he showed all the skills of one in the first ten minutes, neither shooting nor rounding the keeper when clean through, missing passes and miscontrolling the ball. He gradually found his way back into the game, working hard to win the succession of aimless long balls hoofed in his general direction. Sliced horribly wide when found space on the edge of the six yard box. Might be better in McGoldrick's role, if only we had a striker to replace him with.
Saganowski - 6: Worked his socks off in the first half, chasing lost causes and defending from the front, but he just did not get the service. Was in space a number of times in the box only for his colleagues, and Surman in particular, to fail to set him up. Frustration got the better of him in the second half as he faded from the game and was subbed.
Substitutions
BWP - 5: With such a crucial fixture was it really helpful to try and milk the boos and cheers up the touchline as he warmed up? Did look up for it when he came on with some direct running, but, as ever it seems with him, there was no end product to the jinking runs.
Thompson - 6: An unexpected name on the bench, he was lively when he came on showing Lallana how to use the width of the pitch to create space and run into it. A spell on loan looks to have done him good.