It would be impossible to say that there weren’t positives to take from Saints’ draw with Newcastle, but there is still a long way to go for this team under Mauricio Pellegrino.

There were certainly things to admire – Saints fought back twice to level things up and end up with a point that they could have lost.

Pellegrino made a positive change by starting Manolo Gabbiadini in the same side as Shane Long, albeit in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and the Italian scored twice. Given we know how streaky he is this could be the start of a run of goals that Saints desperately need.

That there were two goals for Saints, even given that one was from the penalty spot, was at least better.

Pellegrino also made several positive changes as the match went on to try and get the game won, even if opening up did leave Saints exposed.

But you also have to reflect on the things that are still concerning.

To begin with, this result isn’t really good enough.

A draw at home to Newcastle, who are dogged but really not all that great, is far from spectacular.

And given this was the start of a run of four matches where Saints really needed as close to maximum points as possible to kick start a push for seventh, a single point was below par.

Again we saw problems across the team.

Pellegrino has been quick to point out that Saints are not just failing in front of goal, and once more there were worrying signs of a lack of cohesion, a lack of direction and identity and some poor defending from the team as a whole, whether confidence related or otherwise.

These are all things that Pellegrino knows have to be addressed, but it is easier said than done in the white heat of the Premier League campaign.

The first half was, frustratingly, all too predictable.

Newcastle sat deep, were relatively well organised and disciplined, gave Saints all the ball in deep areas and defended for their lives.

That left Saints with that all too familiar challenge of trying to break them down, something they continued to struggle with.

They weren’t without any first half openings.

Dusan Tadic had three opportunities, firing over from range, seeing a shot on the turn deflected wide and heading over the bar when gifted a free header at the far post six yards out, while Virgil van Dijk couldn’t divert a corner on target when Rob Elliot had got lost coming for the ball.

Newcastle’s attacks were fleeting, but they ensured one was decisive.

As in recent games, Saints played a significant part in their own downfall as they fell behind on 20 minutes.

After they had failed to clear with some sluggish defending from van Dijk, Matt Ritchie’s deflected cross found Christian Atsu.

He hit a volley on the spin that was blocked by Maya Yoshida but went straight out to Isaac Hayden.

The midfielder hit an impressive first time low drive from just outside the area that found the net with Fraser Forster unable to recover in time from his initial dive to attempt a save.

The second period was, perhaps surprisingly, a much more open affair.

Newcastle started on the front foot, Joselu’s seemingly aimless flick in the air looping on to the crossbar, before Saints levelled things up on 49 minutes.

It was a terrific solo effort from Manolo Gabbiadini, who brought down a high diagonal ball from the left and held off Javier Manquillo with his back to goal in the area.

He ignored his teammates and dropped to the edge of the area where he made use of just a yard of space to hit a low left footed shot that found the near bottom corner.

Saints’ joy was short lived, however, as Newcastle were back in front just a couple of minutes later.

Newcastle were able to play through the heart of the Saints defence, and Ayoze Perez forced Forster into a near post save and, when the ball came back his way, was able to convert from a tight angle.

Pellegrino shook up formations, style and personnel several times as Saints tried to get back into the game.

When they did, on 75 minutes, it was no more than they deserved, even if it did come via a bit of luck.

Jamaal Lascelles did well to win the ball from Sofiane Boufal but it ricocheted direct to Shane Long.

Long and Saints sprung forward and quickly made their way into the area where the striker was inexplicably chopped down by Florain Lejeune, despite the fact he posed no danger heading away from goal.

Gabbiadini stepped up to take the penalty and slammed it home.

Saints battled for a winning goal in the closing stages, but it was Newcastle who came closest, Steven Davis clearing off the line after Lejeune had lost Charlie Austin from a corner and headed on target.

This crucial period of fixtures in the context of Saints’ season has got off to an average start in terms of the result. You could argue it was not even that.

So there is little margin for error now in the three games that lie ahead.

Saints need to seize on the positives and get some momentum rolling.