On the Cross verdict - Palace 2 Saints 1

George Burley rang the changes from the weakened line-up against Millwall. There was also the welcome sight of David Prutton returning to the bench.

Burley went for experience at the back with Lundekvam, Baird and Brennan, alongside Kenton who came in for the injured Powell. It would have been a good opportunity to give Cranie a run out, but the youngster failed even to make the bench.

Claus and Baird were once again excellent and not at fault when a deflection gifted Andy Johnson a golden chance which he took to show Saints how to finish. The less said about the second goal the better when Clinton Morrison was allowed the freedom of Selhurst back by substitute Ostlund to slot another well taken finish past former Palace keeper ‘Super Kevin' Miller.

Saints had a youthful midfield, backed by the experience of Wright, with youngsters Potter, Surman and Dyer running rings around the Palace midfield and creating and fluffing chance after chance after chance.

First thing on Monday morning, Potter, Surman and Dyer should be lined up for shooting - shooting practice, that is - as they came up with ever more head scratching ways to waste the golden chances that they had combined so well to fashion.

Fuller and Rasiak were equally wasteful up front, although Fuller was once again on the scoresheet with a near post header. Rasiak underhit his chances whereas Fuller blasted his well over the bar. They once again combined well up front with Fuller particularly impressive on the ball.

I'm still shaking my head as to quite how we failed to get anything from the game having played so well. Despite missing the qualities of Belmadi and Chaplow from our midfield, this was an impressive display of the kind of pass and move football that Burley likes to play.

On the day, it was all down to finishing. Given the number of chances that Saints wasted, it seemed inevitable that Palace would take some of theirs and so it proved. This was a lesson to Saints youngsters in keeping your head in front of goal that we hope they heed next season.

Saints are playing again with the swagger of early season and this bodes well for next season, when hopefully a welcome injection of cash will add more quality to our collection of youngsters, loans and long term Saints to turn that potential into a top of the table finish.

Credit should go to our noisy away support who out sang a quiet home crowd with their minds on the play-offs. Let's hope for an equally noisy send off in the final home game of the season with Leicester the visitors to St Mary's on Sunday.

Man of the match: Chris Baird hardly put a foot wrong all game, despite having once again to move to centre back when Kenton went off injured. This award might well have gone to Surman or Dyer if they hadn't been so wasteful in front of goal.

Cameo of the day: Although he was at fault for the second goal, it was a welcome sight to see Ostlund charging into tackles when he came on to the delight of the away fans who sang 'Jesus is our right back'.

Lemon of the day: Close to man of the match, but quite how Surman failed to score is beyond me, as he wasted at least three golden chances inside the box.

Thorn in the side: Might have had a penalty if he didn't have his reputation for diving, but Andy Johnson showed the Saints youngsters how to finish with a well taken goal. Looked a threat all afternoon.