ACROBATIC: Jason Euell sends an overhead kick wide of the target at Ashton Gate last night.Pictures: Chris Moorhouse.
SAINTS' inconsistencies hit new heights last night as they managed to look like two completely different teams over the course of a single match.
In the first half against high-flying Bristol City they struggled dreadfully. They couldn't keep the ball, let alone create a chance and appeared totally disjointed.
In the second period they were rampant, passing the ball so crisply, prising openings and generally looking at their imperious best.
It was a reflection of the overall picture this season, the watch-word for which has been inconsistent.
On this occasion George Burley will probably reflect the team he put out to start the game didn't work out as he hoped.
After the 1-0 win against Cardiff with Saints not at their best and with the punishing schedule this week in mind, he made changes to the personnel and system.
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Alan Bennett was out with midfielder Jhon Viafara standing in at centre half.
The change of formation saw Saints line-up in a 4-5-1 shape, with Bradley Wright-Phillips, in for Marek Saganowski, on the left of midfield.
Andrew Surman was also in the midfield at the expense of Inigo Idiakez.
The players struggled to come to terms with the system and looked a bit all over the place as they tried to get to grips with it.
They didn't help themselves by passing the ball so badly.
City stunned Saints by taking the lead after just four minutes.
They worked a short corner and Michael McIndoe delivered from the right.
Marvin Elliott headed goalwards but it was blocked on the line by a melee of players.
However, Darren Byfield was on hand to come in and stab home.
Saints' first half struggles were summed up on 17 minutes when City scored their second goal.
Gregory Vignal was waiting out on the left wing for a pass from Surman but he instead chose to try and go the other way and lost possession.
Ivan Sproule picked it up inside the Saints half and ran straight into the space vacated by Vignal.
He continued to press on, cut inside once he got into the area and fired a terrific shot across Kelvin Davis into the bottom corner.
Davis was strong on 33 minutes when he punched the ball and Louis Carey's head as the centre half looked like adding a third from a Lee Johnson free-kick.
It was a game of two halves for Saints – the first was poor and the second was much better, they just left themselves too much to do in the end. It keeps getting said but consistency will be the key to their success or otherwise this season.
Adam Leitch
The best Saints could muster in the first half was a miscued effort from Surman, a blocked shot from Stern John and an off-target overhead kick from Jason Euell.
Saints switched to a 4-4-2 after conceding the second goal and then changed personnel at the break.
Idiakez was introduced for Surman and he changed the game completely.
He went into the centre of midfield with Euell on the left and added composure on the ball and thrust in attack.
Saints looked a different team and the second half was played out almost exclusively in the City half.
Idiakez created the first chance of the second 45 with a corner that John headed goalwards at the far post but saw it blocked
Saints got themselves back into the game on 54 minutes.
Jamie McAllister's misdirected pass across the backline was intercepted by Idiakez.
He pushed on into the box and fired across keeper Adriano Basso who saved but spilled the ball.
Wright-Phillips slid in to tap home but was beaten to it by McAllister who could only put it into his own net.
Saints then created a series of chances to equalise but couldn't quite take one.
Idiakez was involved in FIVE of them.
He had appeals for a penalty turned down four minutes after the goal and eight minutes later the Spaniard produced a great pass with the outside of his boot that put Wright-Phillips in - but Basso was brave at his feet.
Idiakez's corner was met by Christian Dailly but hacked off the line.
Then Phil Ifil's cross was headed back across goal by the sub for Grzegorz Rasiak to head against the top of the bar and over.
Idiakez fired just wide himself as time ran out.
Nathan Dyer also came close with a shot from 20 yards that Basso turned wide.
Youssef Safri was sent off in injury time for apparently pushing Johnson in the back of the head as Saints' desperate chase for an equaliser ran out of time.
The trouble is, they didn't start until they were two behind.
Those are the frustrating inconsistencies of Saints this season.
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