WHATEVER anybody might say about Saints, nobody can accuse them of not working to match whoever they are playing.

Yesterday's draw at Stamford Bridge was testament to their fitness and sheer determination to be as good as any team they face.

Yes, Saints do have creativity and talent, but not in the abundance that Chelsea do.

Yet you wouldn't guess there was much, if anything, between Gordon Strachan's men and Claudio Ranieri's much improved second placed title challengers.

One thing Strachan has got from his team is a consistency of performance and a group of players able to up their game to the level of their opponents.

Because, although the pitch looked as though it had been grazed on by a herd of cows in stilettos, Chelsea were still a good team, oozing quality and able to adapt to the conditions...and Saints matched them.

It was hard work, but they matched them. One of the Saints' most consistent and top drawer performers, Michael Svensson agreed: "It was total teamwork.

"We knew that we had to be aggressive and I thought we were.

"They had a good shape but so did we so we had to believe in ourselves and know that we are very good at the moment and had to continue doing that.

"It was a tough game, really exhausting.

"It was very physical and you had to concentrate all the time because of the pitch - the ball could bounce the wrong way and that's quite difficult to handle."

Saints, now unbeaten in six Premiership matches, have already proved this season they can play their football - look at the games against Arsenal and Newcastle.

But the two away draws in six days at Leeds and Chelsea have just confirmed that the run should not be a positive blip but something sustainable - at least for the remainder of the season.

They almost certainly won't remain unbeaten over the next 18 matches but the fact that they are now always difficult to beat is a massive boost.

In the past Saints have had to play at their best or their opponents play badly to earn their points - now they can pick them up when they aren't at their best.

At Stamford Bog, Gianfranco Zola, otherwise as imperious as ever, should have opened the scoring on 11 minutes.

Quique De Lucas found Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who crossed from the right win.

The little Italian arrived at the far post to tap home from five yards...only he didn't. He hit the inside of the post and Saints survived.

Saints went close seven minutes later when Jo Tessem, who looked more comfortable than he has before up front, played a beautiful ball to Rory Delap.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder stretched for the ball but could only get a toe on it and Ed De Goey was able to save.

Most of the Chelsea keeper's other stops were just as routine as Saints weren't quite able to create and nail the killer attack.

But Chelsea only got closer on two occasions - thanks in part to superb last ditch challenges from Delap, Chris Marsden and Claus Lundekvam.

With two minutes remaining substitute William Gallas got in at the far post but his well hit shot was brilliantly saved one-handed by Antti Niemi.

Then, two minutes into injury time, the Blues almost snatched it - but thanks to Gallas they didn't.

The Chelsea man was twice hit by shots from his own team on the Saints goalline to keep them out before Marcel Desailly smashed over the bar from close range.

It wasn't the most entertaining of games, but Saints fans are unlikely to watch any much more encouraging.