JUDGING by the likes of West Brom, Crystal Palace and Norwich, the gap between the Premiership and the Championship remains fairly sizeable.

But on much of last night's evidence, the on-field difference between a top-flight team and the lower reaches of the Football League still cannot be taken for granted.

True, Steve Wigley's men ran out comfortable enough winners against Northampton in the end, but the manner of the victory was not quite as reassuring as the scoreline.

Saints scored at the right times and perhaps they had half an eye on Saturday's trip to Fulham, but for long periods, particularly early in each half, there was not a huge amount between the two teams.

The first goal always looked crucial.

And after a somewhat nervy opening when Northampton had chances through Scott McGleish and Tom Youngs, it was the class of Kevin Phillips which calmed the nerves.

Once ahead, there was only ever going to be one winner and David Prutton effectively sealed Saints' passage to the third round when he volleyed brilliantly home from the edge of the box just before half-time.

Yet despite their advantage, Saints spent the opening minutes of the second period in their own half and defending resiliently.

The international class back-line of Antti Niemi, Mikael Nilsson, Claus Lundekvam, Andreas Jakobsson and Jelle Van Damme were as solid and strong as you would expect and Northampton never looked likely to seriously threaten.

Yet, somehow, you would have hoped that Saints could have taken the sting out of the game more by keeping possession in midfield.

They didn't and instead relied upon a superior quality in the final third.

Eventually it was Neil McCann, scoring his first goal for Saints, who surged clear and calmly finished to end all doubt.

Prior to the match, many had optimistically remembered the 2002/3 season when Saints had made a similarly slow start in the league.

Also with just one win in their opening six games, Gordon Strachan's men ran up half-a-dozen against Tranmere.

From there, they immediately won three consecutive games to surge into the top ten of the league, where they finished, and also memorably made the FA Cup final.

The catalyst was Strachan, but the likes of Michael Svensson, Wayne Bridge, Chris Marsden and Matt Oakley were also hugely influential.

For different reasons, all of the above quintet were absent last night and Saints are a team with an air of transition just now.

Consequently, the odds of a season like two years ago currently look long, but who knows?

A win is a win and it is about time Saints went close in this particular competition.