Dean Wilkins refused to blame the sacking of Alan Pardew for Saints’ second miserable home defeat in the space of five days.

Pardew was axed after the team put in a scintillating display to demolish Bristol Rovers 4-0 away from home.

And since then the side have relinquished their grip on the JPT by crashing 3-0 to Swindon and suffered a horrendous 2-0 loss to Rochdale at St Mary’s.

The latest defeat was particularly galling for the club’s fans, coming as it does against one of the minnows of the division.

Saints look like a team affected by the departure of their manager, but caretaker boss Wilkins said: “I’m certainly not going to use it as an excuse.

“We are professional people, the players are professionals and they are paid to come in and do their best every day, which is what they do generally, so no.”

Full story in today's Daily Echo