On the Cross verdict - Crewe 1 Saints 1

George Burley sprung the one surprise in the line-up, bringing in striker Peter Madsen at right midfield, meaning an opportunity to start for Dexter Blackstock up front, with cult hero Ostlund and Kenwyne Jones injured. Marian Pahars was conspicuous by his absence from the bench with time surely running out for the Latvian wizard to earn a new contract.

It meant another opportunity for Chris Baird at right back and he responded with one of his best games in a Saints shirt, looking dangerous going forward and solid at the back and forming a decent partnership with Madsen.

Unfortunately, that understanding on the right went when Kamil Kosowski came on to the right of midfield with Madsen pushing up front to show his ability at the sharp end with a well-taken goal after a cute pass from Rasiak.

It was the Dane’s first striker for Saints since joining on loan in the transfer window and he admitted that he has found the transition to English football difficult: “It was a difficult start for me. It was a totally different kind of football to what I was used to.”

Indeed, Saints fans are understandably becoming frustrated at a kind of disjointed football that we are becoming all too used to in this seemingly endless season of disappointments. With Saints effectively safe, next season and new personnel just can’t come quickly enough.

However, we simply have to start learning from the mistakes that have dogged us for two seasons now. Lack of concentration at the back once again saw us surrender another two points to a spirited, but limited Crewe side that could well have gone on to win it after equalising.

At the other end, we once again failed to convert our chances and Burley will surely revert to the burgeoning partnership between Rasiak and Madsen in an attempt to become more clinical up front.

Saints have been poor away from home for too long to remember. We are difficult to beat and rarely concede at home, but are all too susceptible when the opposition home crowds get on the player’s backs and still have a habit of defending too deep and failing to keep possession of the ball.

Saints are at our best when playing at a high tempo, with movement and commitment, but Burley has yet to unlock the puzzle of why we are incapable of playing like that for extended periods. Yes, we were on top until the equaliser and created plenty of chances, but you could have said that about the majority of our games this season and the league table does not lie – 18th position. 18th!

On the Cross watched Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire earlier in the week who perhaps summed up life as a Saints fan this season: “You don't know what it's like to be ME out here for YOU. It is an up-at-dawn, pride-swallowing siege that I will never fully tell you about, ok?” Show me the money, Rupert Lowe! 

Man of the match: A quality performance from the in-out Chris Baird who has been unlucky to lose his place to the inspired signing of Swedish international Ostlund.

Cameo of the day: A first strike for the improving Peter Madsen, who is slowly finding match sharpness and is starting to show Saints fans what a talent he really is.

Lemon of the day: A miss worthy of our own Brett Ormerod, as former Saints’ trainee Gareth Taylor somehow spooned over with the goal at his mercy.