George Burley made just the one change from the line-up that trounced League One Yeovil 5-2 on Wednesday. Top scorer Rasiak came in for Kenwyne Jones who was unfortunate to miss out after a strong performance in mid-week.
Surprisingly given Saints' injury jinx, Burley had no defenders on the bench with the versatile Martin Cranie unlucky to miss out. As it was the defence failed to close down a well organised Preston playing on the counter. Baird was his usual imperious self, but the other three were all guilty of below par performances.
In front of them Saints put in a highly disjointed display in midfield, seemingly unable to retain possession, causing the defence to resort to bypassing by hoofing it downfield to little effect. You have to question the balance in midfield with two youngsters in Surman and Lallana frequently muscled out of it, Viafara struggling to pass the ball and Skacel not given enough of the ball to shine.
Wright came on at half-time to try and redress the balance, but didn't look 100% fit as Saints' problems continued. Skacel gamely took it upon himself to try and get Saints playing, but needed much better support from his teammates.
Up front Rasiak again found the back of the net and Wright-Phillips worked hard, but just didn't bring his shooting boots today.
Davis
Makin, (not that) Pele, Baird, Bale
Lallana (Wright h-t), Surman (Dyer, 76), Viafara, Skacel
Wright-Phillips, Rasiak (Jones, 72)
Subs: Miller, Fuller
On the Cross verdict
Let's be honest, Saints were poor today and didn't deserve more than a draw. Preston were content to play on the counter attack in the spaces left by our unbalanced midfield and might have won it but for better shooting. As it was, their manager, Paul Simpson, was more than happy with the draw.
For Saints this was back to earth with a bump after the fluent display of attacking football against Yeovil. Perhaps even Burley got carried away with the five goals and countless other chances, fielding Surman in an unfamiliar (for Saints at least) central midfield position and starting Lallana when perhaps he would have been better on the bench.
Approve of him or not, Mike Osman cranked up the atmosphere at St Mary's with his microphone antics, but the players did little to inspire a disappointingly low crowd of 20,712 after getting a similar number against Yeovil. The football was reminiscent of the aimless football seen at the turn of the year when Saints completely lost our way before Burley gradually worked his magic.
This was not promotion football and Saints have a great deal of work to do in the next two weeks to get a balanced side playing the kind of passing game that we are capable of. A quality playmaker is required in central midfield to retain possession and get Saints playing again, as the Surman/Viafara, Wright/Viafara combinations are not going to be strong enough week-in week-out to dominate the opposition.
Man of the match: Yes, it should be Chris Baird, but it goes to Rudi Skacel for the potential and industry shown in the second half when he almost singlehandedly tried to win the game for Saints, stung by the horror equaliser. Saints simply have to get him in the game more, as when he was his quality shone through. So nearly scored with a sharp spin and turn on the edge of the box. This guy has some serious potential.
Cameo of the day: Kelvin Davis, what on earth happened? A simply horrific goalkeeping error, as a routine save slipped between his legs and squirmed painfully slowly over the goalline. Please let that be the only time you do that in a Saints shirt.
Thorn in the side: You could see why David Nugent has been linked with a move to the Premiership. He worked a series of openings for himself and might have scored a couple had he been more clinical in front of goal.