AS EVER WAS..

Once again, all that is really needed to comment on Saints` game last night is a picture of the fans looking their habitual glum selves. The other day I suggested that this week`s fixtures against Bristol Rovers last night and Gillingham on Saturday might finally drag us out of negative territory. Well, things seemed to be going ok at St. Mary`s last evening in front of an impressive philosophical gathering of 19,727. We were one up, pulled back to 1-1, went two up, pulled back to 2-2 and then, in the sixth minute of the five minutes of added time, Bristol Rovers won it 3-2 with a stunning strike from the edge of the area.

So we are still stuck on minus one point after ten games and still at least ten points adrift at the bottom of the league. The Gillingham game on Saturday now takes on added significance, for if we lose that, which we are perfectly capable of doing, then patience with manager Pardew might begin to wear a little thin. But there`s a long way to go; it`s a marathon not a sprint; Rome wasn`t built in a day and we must move on and put last night`s disappointment behind us at the end of the day. It is, indeed, as ever was.

This morning, our Saints supporting postman brought me my ticket for Saturday`s game. I`m taking my next door neighbour with me, who is an ardent Gillingham fan. I`ve told him that if his team win, then he`ll have to find his own way home. And then move. Seems fair.