SAINTS fans were scathing of their side's friendly setback in West Devon.

Around 1,000 supporters travelled to see Paul Sturrock's former club stun his present employers.

And while pre-season results are not the be all and end all - Sturrock himself has re-iterated that on more than one occasion recently - the Saints fans at Home Park weren't too happy with the performance either.

Paul Hagens, who took his family to Sweden to follow the Saints, spent around £100 ferrying them to and from Plymouth.

He complained: "We just want a bit of encouragement, but there's not a lot there at the moment.

"That's the annoying thing.

"We just don't seem to create anything from midfield, it doesn't matter who is playing there.

"We have got to try and find a place for Marian Pahars, you have to have skilful players like him in your team.

"He can do something to excite you - too many of the midfielders we have are just industrious rather than creative.

"Why can't we ever seem to get the best out of Anders Svensson? He's a good player, a great passer of the ball."

Hagens continued: "It was very disappointing at Plymouth.

"We were 3-0 down at one stage and it could have been four or five.

"Before the game we were all talking about what a good start we have on paper - Villa away followed by Blackburn and Bolton at home, we were thinking we could get seven points there. Coming out of Home Park we were thinking we'd be lucky to get four or five!

"There was no trouble or anything like that but afterwards in the car park there were Plymouth fans looking at you and smirking - it was a bit embarrassing.

"James Beattie didn't look interested - it's a bit worrying when a journeyman centre half from Plymouth beats you in the air every time.

"And I don't care what people say, it does look to me like we're playing the long ball game - and you can't ask Kevin Phillips to win high balls against two six foot tall centre halves.

Steve Grant also travelled down to Plymouth just a few days after returning from watching Saints' 2-2 draw against Elfsborg in Sweden.

The SaintsAway Supporters group member said: "We were absolutely dreadful, shocking.

"It was a case of nice weather, shame about the performance.

"I was a bit concerned about some of our defending - Claus looked a bit clumsy, Telfer didn't do too much.

"Le Saux didn't offer much, but McCann did okay - though he hardly got any support at all.

"Beattie was dreadful, I don't know how he stayed on for the 90 minutes. Sturrock had young Leon Best on the bench so it seemed obvious that having travelled all that way he should have played some part.

"Beattie just didn't look as if he was putting the effort in.

"Mickey Evans was giving Claus a really tough time - Beattie should have been doing that to his marker as well. He's got the strength and is good in the air to do that."