This was a game that we would probably have taken a draw in back in August let alone before the game started, a good point and a sign of hope.

For once Mauricio Pellegrino appeared to have picked a side that most Saints supporters would agree with, although the absence of both Yoshida and Shane Long was worrying and the biggest surprise was the inclusion of 17 year old Michael Obafemi on the bench.

Saints started well and deserved their 15 minute lead although it had more than a touch of luck about it a cross being diverted into his own net by a Spurs defender, but the lead would last no more than four minutes and again it was a case of slack defending by Saints.

Harry Kane should not have been allowed a header from such close range and you have to say that if Fraser Forster was the keeper then he would be being slaughtered this morning for all sort of things.

At this moment you feared for Saints as Spurs started to get more possession and push forward, but Saints dug in with all four defenders putting in a shift and the midfield trio of Romeu, Lemina and Hojbjerg standing strong.

Indeed as the game went on it was clear that th confidence was returning to the Saints side and they looked capable of seeing this one through for once, in was going to be a case of could Pellegrino make the right substitutions at the right times !

The first came on 65 minutes and it was not a popular one, Hojbjerg came off and Boufal came on, a brave change and one aimed at winning the game and from this viewpoint the manager should be applauded, certainly Boufal would offer more going forward.

The second on 8o minutes was again expected and although it was Lemina who went off, Steven Davis came on and used his experience to keep the side going and see the game out.

The third though was right out of the left field, Manolo Gabbiadini had run his socks off and it needed fresh legs up front, but most thougt it would be Nathan Redmond who would provide them, but instead it was Michael Obafemi, a 17 year old from the U18 side, whose only other game as note was as a 65th minute substitute in a Checkatrade Trophy game at Northampton, Saints were 3-0 up at the time and ended up drawing 3-3, not the result that would inspire confidence in the supporters, not that there were more than a handful who probably knew who he was.

In fairness Obafemi ran around a lot, but it was clear that he was a little out of his depth and it was a gamble that did not pay off especially when he had a great chance to win the game but scuffed his shot, his time will come, but it was not yesterday.

Mind you for once Mauricio Pellegrino did something different so that should be applauded.

All in all though this was a performance that showed that Saints have the team to stay up, it was never going to be a case of instant improvement in confidence, but now we have had two tough games and come through unbeaten, it will have hopefully given us the confidence to pull out of trouble, we have the players to do so, add at least a couple more and we can win a few games and zoom up the table.

The good news is that the players appeared to play for the manager, I don't think it is a complete case of them not playing for him to start with, I think that they like him, but the issue is he is not giving them the leadership that they need, even last week at Watford he was not making the right substitutions at the right tim, as against Arsenal there was no bringing a sub on to break up the game in the final minute and stop the opposition momentum, it was done too late, but the hope is that he will learn and the players respond.

The Brighton game is now a big one, it needs a full house of Saints fans all behind their team, as they were yesterday, the atmosphere was not great in the first half, but as the game went on the fans saw that the team could see it through and got behind them and that is another plus point.

Hard to pick a man of the match, it was a team performance with players working together as a unit, Hoedt and Stephens worked well for most of the game and the midfield central trio were also outstanding both individually and as a unit, this was a tough game with so many out injured, but we came through and took a big step if not in League positions, but in confidence.

Photo: Action Images

helpineedsomebody added 10:30 - Jan 22 jack stephens BALL WATCHING AGAIN then a few minutes later goes to head the ball & misses it completley
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Bettwsresident added 10:36 - Jan 22 Great report but minor correction, PEH was playing as centre-forward in first half! As I said on the report if this was Pellegrino's attempt to show what we need in January to Les then...Job done! Great atmosphere and the Spurs fans after initially trying it on with 'When the Spurs', and 'Harry Kane's scored more that your team'...helped the atmosphere enormously and were put well and truly in their place with 'Harry Kane, he's off to Madrid'. Bring on Swansea away (my closest away game) and I'm looking forward to another rendition of 'Swing Low'.

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JDawg added 10:36 - Jan 22 We've seen these glimmers of hope before. The team and manager get it right and put in a good performance one week, the next they are all over the place and the manager reverts to form. There's still a long way to go. When we've strung 3 good performances together, then maybe we can start believing in Mauricio Pellegrino (and I really do want to).
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sidsaint added 10:46 - Jan 22 Good of the manager to give Obafenmi the experience, but in such an important game, probably not the right decision. Even Redmond would have scored from the chance he missed. Still encouraging signs and a couple of signings could give a further boost. Brighton and West Brom really are huge games for us. COYS's.
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DorsetIan added 11:09 - Jan 22 There was something different yesterday - a real sense of them playing as a team. Think Obafenmi was the right choice for last 10 mins. I don't think he looked out of his depth and got in the right position for the chance he missed - and he's not the first to miss one of those. All the other players looking like assets rather then liabilities now. I wonder wether Boufal is just too 'individual' a talent and I wonder whether Redmond is taking the club's and his position seriously enough. When he was warming up yesterday, there was lots of friendly chatter with the Spurs players warming up. He should take a leaf out of Gabbiadini's book - he as least looks as miserable as hell with his current form. (Although to me fair, I'm not sure whether we've ever seen him smile, have we...) Could be a massive 10 days. Some players in this week and then wins against Watford and Brighton would give us something to smile about. Maybe MP can turn it round yet...

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LordDZLucan added 11:30 - Jan 22 helpineedsomebody. Is that all you’ve got to say? After a great team performance that got the crowd right back behind the team you pick on errors by one player. Why? No wonder the team is playing with fear if that’s the sort of criticism you’re directing at the players from the sanctuary of your seat. For goodness sake get behind the team.
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Santos added 11:33 - Jan 22 Anyone know why Long was not available!!! As from my perspective if he was just left out, then this is another massive error by the manager!! So I assume he was injured.
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Sanguin added 11:34 - Jan 22 Great to see Hojbjerg, Lemina and Romeu working together. I thought they were all defensive midfielders and wouldn’t be able to play as a three. It’s clear that Hojbjerg doesn’t offer enough going forward though (he has never been good at scoring) and so the change for Boufal was the right one. We were good value for the draw and could’ve won it. Typically in these kind of games, one of the top side’s players show a flash of brilliance to get a winning goal. While we’re obviously not doing well against weaker opposition, it feels like we’ve got more points against top six sides this season than last. Winnable games coming up against Brighton and West Brom, 6 points would be lovely, 4 points minimum. COYS!

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LondonSaint added 11:36 - Jan 22 Great performance considering our position. I am not Pellegrino's biggest fan but if he can keep the team playing with that kind of energy, ambition and tenacity then he will be well on the way to winning me over. There are still definitely areas to improve on, and we've been teased by these occasional performances in the past, but in the interests of getting behind the team I say well done to all involved - but more of the same needed!

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landsdownsaint added 11:49 - Jan 22 Well all know we got the team to stay up it’s the manager that’s the problem ! How he’s overlooked Lemina Hojbjerg &Gabbi is beyond belief , them players playing each week would’ve been to much for Spurs imho
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AirFlorida added 11:55 - Jan 22 Gotta blame Forster for that soft goal. Don't care that he wasn't playing, he should have been more vocal from the bench.
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Whiteknight added 11:59 - Jan 22 Fair article. Good to see some glimmer of hope and with any luck this will be taken forward to the next three games (Watford included as it could be a real confidence booster and a game we should win). Pleased with the crowd reaction on a really miserable day. Personally I would always play PEH, Lemina and Romeu to really shore up the midfield and build on that using the full backs and another attacking midfielder to create chances. Suspect we need three new players - a beast of a CB, someone with attacking flair and a striker with an eye for goal.

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helpineedsomebody added 12:06 - Jan 22 yesterday i sat down & watched the match & i did enjoy watching the saints play. best game ryan had in 2 years . the manager has gone from playing dug out football to now having 8 players in the box there passing is superb never do thay lose the ball BUT crossing the halve way line the final ball is allways LOST THIS HAS HAPPENED ALL SEASON WHY if they could push up to the halfway line we could end up having afantastic season

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skiptonsaint added 12:24 - Jan 22 Couple of things for me The effort from the players and fight was noticeable and the crowd responded. Best st Mary's atmosphere in a while We have a solid back 8 with those 3 defensive midfielders and if we strengthen in attack we will be ok. I actually enjoyed st Mary's yesterday for the first time this season
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SanMarco added 12:37 - Jan 22 I agree with those being cautious - we have had several false dawns since the Everton win and none got us more than a point and were soon followed by Leicester, Huddersfield, Palace. Having said that I am greatly encouraged - we played a lot better and deserved at least a point against one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the country. helpineedsomebody's comment is too brief for Lord Lucan but that doesn't mean he isn't right. Nick chose not to labour the point but it was a shocking goal. We gave Kane a simple header from a few feet out at Wembley and repeated it again yesterday. Yes we need attacking players but we also need anothe quality CB. It shouldn't be the either/or that debates on here seem to quickly move into. We need both. Was the keeper at fault? I don't know but as Nick says he would have been if he was FF. I am beginning to feel that MP might be an unlucky manager - Watford last week + I thought that he brought on the youngster as a message to the board (attacking signings needed NOW), only for the chance Gabby had been waiting for all game to turn up 2 mins later. Anyway, ROLL ON BRIGHTON - a 'must win' that I now feel we can win.

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bstokesaint added 12:45 - Jan 22 I’ve got to be honest I was expecting a thumping so this felt like a win. It’s a shame the new lad couldn’t pinch a dream winner on his debut, but I’ll take it after Kane’s miss a couple of minutes later. I thought we worked our socks off, but like others have said if we now go and lose against a lesser team then it’s all for nothing. Switching off for the set piece was unforgivable too. You simply cannot make excuses for not picking up the league’s most in-form striker. I felt for MP on this one. His stats aren’t good, but he’s helpless from the touchlines with mistakes like this. Oh, and on a final note JWP gets some real stick these days, so I think it’s only fair he gets a mention when he plays well. He was outstanding yesterday and as the commentators pointed out had the Spurs’ defence all caught out a few times with some dangerous crosses that they struggled to defend. All in all I feel relatively happy right now..

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Dan_P326 added 12:57 - Jan 22 Just as the first half was ending i realized i had this funny feeling, something i hadn't felt in the team in a while and that was pride. Hopefully this game will be our springboard, the players are looking more lively with something to prove and the manager(touch wood) started actually making some good subs to have an impact on the game rather than like for like. Our new youngster looks nippy a bit more experience under his belt and he would have been able to bury that chance he got, let's hope we see more.

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lemmsy added 14:43 - Jan 22 Sid saint Gabbi missed the same chance in the first few minutes & look at the chance Kane missed for them, Try taking a few positives
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allsaint54 added 15:52 - Jan 22 As others have written a much improved performance albeit not the finished article, if we'd played like this all season we wouldn't be in the bottom 3. There is still a great need for a genuine goalscorer/target man. Lots of rumours but only 8 days to go. Why do we always leave it to the last couple of days & lose 3 weeks of potential improvement to the side. I've been one of JWP's biggest critics but yesterday he was excellent, may it long continue. Even Tadic was more prominent. Let's hope MP doesn't ring the changes especially with the back 4, we & the players need stability.

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Bettwsresident added 16:12 - Jan 22 I think the improvement since the new year is underway. Good point away at Old Trafford where we matched Manure and could/should have won it was it not for a wonder save by De Gea Great first 60mins against Palace, but messed up 2nd half and lost Beat Fulham away Robbed by ref and cheat at Watford away and a superb first half A solid point with the better chances against a Tottenham...and importantly we played well for the whole 95 mins. If we can sign a goal scorer, win next week and pick up 4-6 points against Brighton and West Brom the season will be transformed...sadly if we cant then it is squeaky bum time.

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the_saint added 16:19 - Jan 22 Dead proud of the boys yesterday only thing is Hoedt should have with his height and experience picked up Kane at the corner but good performance and special praise for JWP mom for last 3 games
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pintsizedsaint added 19:12 - Jan 22 I just wanted to add a few things to what's been said. Clear improvement in squad mentality, with players playing for their manager and each other. Need to keep that focus. Big value in having Bertrand back. We often forget they have been injured or out of form. Ryan was stellar yesterday and caused their RB all kinds of problems. And yes it was tactical - showing that MP does actually know what he's doing. Spurs goal needs analysing as it's happening too often. It appears Kane muscles Stephens out of position and that left Gabbi (who is hardly known for his aerial ability) being out jumped. For me, I would like to see the keeper come out for those; knowing that the ref will protect them. I suspect the drill is to stay on the goal line for fear of going wandering or not in position for any second ball etc. But when it's that close to goal, just come out and punch it! I agree with others that the miss by the debutant shouldn't be over analysed. What I focus on is the fact he had the foresight and awareness to be in that position. I thought Tadic played really well, looking close to some of his best days. I also thought Lemina was looking solid too. Get in Carrillo and Promes in time for the FA cup - use that as a run out - and take on Brighton. Things might look considerably rosy in a few weeks time. COYS

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TeamCortese added 23:12 - Jan 22 Reserving my comments for Brighton. Heard this before with Man Utd, Man City and Arsenal. We need to win the bigger games and that's against our immediate rivals who to be frank aren't even Leicester, Everton and Burnley. It's newly promoted or lower tier clubs like Brighton, Huddersfield, Newcastle and Swansea. This should hopefully wake people up as to how much we've regressed over the last 18-months due to the mismanagement by our owner!

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LeTissIwish added 06:54 - Jan 23 Don't panic Mr Mainwaring, we're 3rd from bottom and 4 points off 10th, get a grip of yourselves!
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SaintBrock added 09:59 - Jan 23 We got our song back! Worth going just for that.
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