Make no bones about it this was a big result.

Seasons change on decisions and you just felt that Saints got a stroke of luck at Scunthorpe.

The refereee and  linesmen seemed to be giving decisions against Saints for all of the game, but in the three crucial ones of the match they gave it in Saints favour in two of them.

The first was the penalty for Scunthorpe just before the break, there apeared to be no contact when Viafara went for the ball, but the Scunthorpe man tumbled and the referee pointed to the spot, in the second half Thomas tackled Sparrow and the home man seeemed to lunge in over the top, a foul but perhaps a yellow card at worse, Sparrow saw Red and it was the officials who got the bird from the home crowd.

But the final decision and perhaps the one that changes Saints season was in the dying minutes, no one spotted nor appealed for a penalty and play continued but the linesman raised his flag and kept it up signilling to the ref that a fould had been committed to the dismay of the home crowd a penalty was awarded and dutifully dispatched by Vignall.

But it wasnt just about decicions on the pitch but off them as well and all eyes were on Pearson and what side he would put out, it was as he promised back to basics, with 4-4-2 and Viafara in the centre in place of Euell, it was what most Saints supporters would have picked themselves.

But confidence has to be restored and although Saints battled away in the first half, they didnt look like they believed in themselves, in truth there were few chances at either end but although Saints defended well with Pearce looking strong in the centre and taking no chances they didnt look a threat going forward. The penalty out of nowhere looked to have knocked the steam out of them with it being lucky that it was so close to the break that they didnt have time to fall apart.

After the break the Iron started strongly and on 57 minutes following Sparrows departure Saints threw on Hammill for Surman in an attempt to get forwar, they did but Scunthorpe loked in no mood to let Saints pass and as he game ticked on it looked like Saints would leave pointless, although Licka looked good after his introduction and was lively.

But then came that season changing moment, Vignall after a long wait slotted the ball home like he does this sort of thing every week and the reaction of the players showed that they have had some pride and belief restored, in injury time Saints had several chances to win it, the best being BWP's shot from a tight angle, but in truth a draw was a fair result for both sides.

It still leaves Saints looking over their shoulders but you feel that this was the first step to moving up the table and a big one at that, it showed that the manager is willing to change things around, which is good.

DEspite the doom and gloom shouted by the sceptics on the message boards the fact is that Saints need three wins to avoid relegation, last term saw Southend down on 42 points, it will probably be a bit higher this term but three wins would give us 48 points and we would surely pick up a few draws alongside those wins.

On a final not Scunthorpe seemed a friendly club with a nice littel stadium, plenty of parking and places to get something to eat and drink around it, but given the do or die nature of the game for them the atmosphere in the ground was somewhat lacking, despite the home end being terraced there was little singing or vocal encouragement from it and that could be a key pointer to their fate, they are at there highest position for 44 years yet the supporters dont seem to have the passion, Saints fans do have that passion we just now need to re ignite it in many.         

Photo: Action Images

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