SAINTS caretaker boss Dean Wilkins refused to blame last night’s 3-0 loss to Swindon on the sacking of Alan Pardew.

The defending champions tumbled out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at the first hurdle after a poor display at St Mary’s, in front of a record low crowd of 8,333.

The match came less than 48 hours after Pardew, first team coach Wally Downes and goalkeeping coach Stuart Murdoch were given the axe.

Saints’ performance was a world away from the one they put in at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday, when they thumped Bristol Rovers 4-0.

But Wilkins refused to blame last night’s display on Monday’s events.

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“We’re all disappointed,” he said.

“We’re all professional as well, so I don’t think we should use Monday’s events as an excuse.

“I’ve had to get on with it, the players have had to get on with it and we had a meeting about it.

“We are all professional people, so I’m not going to use it as an excuse.”

On numerous occasions, Saints fans were chanting the name of Pardew and the cries only got louder as the night went on.

But Wilkins said he didn’t believe that affected the players.

“I personally don’t think it does, because once you’re out there your full focus is on the job in hand,” he said.

“I understand it, but all I will say to the fans is we need everyone behind us if we are still to achieve our target of getting promotion.

“We’ve got another home game Saturday (against Rochdale) and we really need them behind us.”

Wilkins admitted his side lost the game in both penalty areas, where Swindon were far sharper.

But he felt Saints were the better of the two teams in the middle of the park.

“We lost the game in both penalty areas, but I thought our play in the middle third was probably better than theirs,” said Wilkins.

“I’m just disappointed generally with the result, especially as we were defending our trophy.

“We felt we had the chance of going all the way again.

“I don’t think we got the ball into the box quickly enough at times.”

Wilkins revealed that Lee Barnard’s sending off was for a straight red after a foul on Will Evans, ten minutes after coming on late in the second half.

Referee Darren Sheldrake had initially shown a yellow card, but Wilkins said both that and the red had been stuck together.

Sheldrake then corrected his mistake, but Wilkins didn’t agree with the sending off.

“I thought it was harsh, I thought he tackled one-footed and he hit the ball with his studs, without a doubt,” he said.

Wilkins also confirmed that the prognosis for Adam Lallana and his troublesome knee was not good, ahead of the midfielder visiting a specialist today.

“He sees a specialist, but unfortunately I don’t think we are anticipating good news,” he said.

“But we will just have to wait and see on that.”