SAINTS endured one of the most depressing days in their turbulent recent history on Saturday as fans turned on one another in the wake of another dismal home defeat.

The 2-1 St Mary’s loss to Doncaster leaves Saints second from bottom of the Championship table and facing an increasingly desperate battle to stave off relegation.

Saints supporters have remained patient despite the team’s poor form this season but all that changed in one dramatic afternoon as: ● Fighting broke out between fellow Saints fans in the stands with stewards forced to separate and eject supporters from the ground; ● Vociferous and sustained protests took place against PLC chairman Rupert Lowe who wasn’t at the game; ● Fans threatened to invade the pitch after two evaded the wall of stewards; ● Over 400 fans protested outside the front of the ground after the game, prompting police to be called to the stadium for what was supposed to be a police-free game; ● Some fans even vented their anger at Jan Poortvliet and the Saints dugout, trying to confront them as the game was taking place; Saints have just over a week now to try and regroup and get themselves together for a crucial match at Norwich that looks as if it could go a long way to deciding their fate this season.

Head coach Jan Poortvliet said he had sympathy for the anger of the Saints fans and insisted the only way to win them round is through results.

Saints have won just one of their 13 home league games this season, an appalling record, particularly given the teams they have played.

Despite all that the fans have remained behind Saints, supporting a young team and a head coach who they have warmed to, mainly because they can see they are giving their all.

However, that all changed in the 2-1 defeat to Doncaster on Saturday and, though their anger was generally directed towards the directors’ box rather than at the pitch, some fans did try to confront Poortvliet, pictured above.

They were blocked at the side of the dugout by stewards but still made their voices heard and in fairness Poortvliet he went and listened to them rather than cowering away.

He said: “You only have support when you win games. The only thing in football is to win.

“We were not playing a bad game – it was reasonable – but the fans’ point is that we didn’t win and that’s the only point.

“I can understand that and their anger.

“It’s normal. But I think everyone did their best and every day on the training ground we do everything we can to make a better team and a team who believe in themselves.

“But you see in the home games it is difficult, because there is a big pressure on.

“We were all hoping we would win this one but we didn’t do it. There was a big pressure on the boys and it will stay like that, because to win you need to score goals.”