On the Cross verdict - Saints 1 Burnley 1

With Redknapp handing in his resignation late on Friday night, Bassett and Wise were hastily put in charge of picking the team and they kept continuity in selection in an unadventurous line-up.

There was to be no recall from his loan at Burnley for Nathan Dyer when a one-paced side, Theo Walcott aside, could have done with his injection of pace and enthusiasm. Yes, he is still a youngster and will not be the answer to all Saints problems, but Saints badly need fresh blood in a tired looking squad.

The defence remained unchanged from Wolves with Delap retaining his place at right back despite the return to fitness of Martin Cranie and with Kenton again deputising for the injured Michael Svensson whose knee is still troubling him. While he gave his all, Kenton again looked an accident waiting to happen alongside the reliable Powell who had a good tussle all afternoon with the in-form Ade Akinbiyi.

In midfield, David Prutton returned to central midfield in an anonymous display that showed a real lack of match sharpness. Saints looked lightweight in central midfield and failed to show their usual dominance, with the absence of Nigel Quashie keenly felt.

Without Quashie’s leadership and drive, Saints looked very ordinary in midfield with only the neat tricks and turns of Belmadi showing any invention.

After the standard promising opening, the passing throughout the team was woeful with countless misplaced passes and a persistence in lumping the ball up to what must be the smallest front pairing in the league in Theo Walcott and Brett Ormerod.

Walcott needs the ball played into his feet or into space not lumped forward in his general direction. Perhaps the new manager can remind the players that Peter Crouch no longer plays for the club.

Saints began brightly and looked well up for the game, as did the crowd who made their feelings clear about Redknapp and Chairman Rupert Lowe.

However, the honeymoon period did not last with the drama, as all week, happening off the pitch, as Saints faded badly and simply ran out of ideas in attack.

Dennis Wise was in Jose Mourinho mode in sharp suit and with notes to hand, gesticulating and shouting instructions to captain Matthew Oakely. Dave/Harry Bassett kept in the background, but took the post-match press conference which he used to put forward his case for the job.

Quite whether Bassett’s old school style is in line with Lowe’s long term plan for the club is another matter, but he may be in with a chance in the short-term as Saints seek continuity. After being pressed on whether he could work with Wise and Woodward, he memorably claimed that he could even 'work with the devil' if necessary.

The new management duo did at least show the ability to change tactics during the match, a common complaint against Redknapp, after Saints were pegged back to 1-1 thanks to Ade Akinbiyi’s beautifully worked goal. A Rory Delap mistake allowed Branch to put in a perfect cross for Akinbiyi to head in from close range, although Niemi might have done better having got his hands to the ball.

The management team responded by sending on two big men up front in Jones and Fuller and playing with two traditional wingers in McCann and Kosowski, as Saints resorted to route one. Although it did create the odd half chance, Saints never looked like winning it.

In fact, the well organised, if limited, Burnley side executed their game plan to perfection with the manager delighted to have ‘nicked it’ and indeed they looked more likely to even nick a win with Saints running out of energy and ideas.

Less than 24 hours is too little time for the new men to turn around familiar failings from Saints. There was little belief in the crowd or on the pitch that Saints wouldn’t concede after going ahead, thanks to a fortuitous penalty.

Although there was a clear foul on Rory Delap after his layman’s version of a Le Tissier running juggle, the ball was heading out of play and the defender’s clumsy challenge was a moment of good fortune.

With usual penalty taker Nigel Quashie absent, Danny Higginbotham stepped up to score his second of the season smashing it down the middle with some aplomb. Once ahead that was the cue for Saints to retreat into their shells as the crowd waited for the inevitable equaliser from what was Burnley’s only real chance all game.

So where do we go from here? A change needed to be made and Redknapp has made it quite clear that his heart was never in it, as many Saints fans have suspected for some time. Quite why he came in the first place is another matter, so maybe there is some truth in the agent Redknapp banter.

Let’s hope he is a double agent and can complete a memorable double.

The way that things have been going this season on the south coast despite a promising start, a Redknapp inspired relegation for Pompey looks the most likely way for the south coast derbies to start up again next season.

Although Saints are still in touch with the play-off positions we are sinking into mid-table obscurity week by week and the new management team has a major task on their hands to provide the inspiration and fitness levels to get what remains a talented Saints squad playing to the standards of which they are capable.

Man of the match: Danny Higginbotham was the best of a bad bunch, defending bravely and powering in the penalty.

Thorn in the side: Goal-scorer Adi Akinbiyi lead the line expertly as Burnley sought to spring the off-side trap and ping crosses into the league's top scorer at every opportunity.

Cameo of the day: Dennis Wise's Jose Mourinho impression on the sidelines was about the most entertaining part of the day.

Lemon of the day: Who put lead in Matthew Oakley's boots? He looked well off the pace and sprayed the ball around all afternoon, unfortunately to no one in particular. Didn't look the same player without Nigel Quashie alongside him.