IT was a brave sentiment
for Nigel Pearson
to take responsibility
for this 5-0 humiliation.
Pearson's post-match interviews
showed plenty more savvy and
experience than displayed on the
pitch.
He was embarrassed and rightly
warned relegation was a possibility
with more performances like this.
But he pulled that old trick that
only the bravest managers do of
trying to take the pressure off the
players by accepting full responsibility
himself.
It shows broad shoulders and
strength.
However, Saints fans who have
been watching over the past few
months, weeks - even years - will
not hold him responsible for the
position the club and the team are
in.
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This was the third time Saints
have shipped five goals away from
home this season, and Pearson wasn't
here for the previous two.
Saints have the worst defensive
record in the division. Most of the
damage was done before Pearson
arrived.
The team are currently two points
from the Championship drop zone,
a million miles off the club's
Premiership ambitions.
Pearson has only been here a matter
of weeks.
You can understand why Pearson
is doing what he is doing, and you
have to admire him for it.
But the problems displayed at
Hull are hardly all of his making.
The weekend saw a dreadful performance
from Saints. Unlike the
other two times they have let in five
away this season, this was every bit
deserved.
The scoreline was perfectly fair.
Saints never competed, never
looked to match Hull in heart.
They were appalling and, if they
continue like this, relegation is not
just possible but inevitable.
The next game, against Coventry
at St Mary's, has become truly massive.
Just like Leicester was, win and
Saints can get themselves some
breathing space.
A draw would not be great.
A defeat is unthinkable and
means Saints will be up against it
to avoid League One football.
Quite how Pearson picks his players
up this week is unclear.
What he must try and do is just to
get them to forget about this game,
write it off as one that's gone.
It's all about the Coventry match
and the players have to go out and
prove that they want to stay in this
league.
Absolutely woeful performance from Saints. There was not a single positive to take from the game. But Nigel Pearson has to pick up his players and move on to because it looks like the next match could define whether the season is bad or a disaster.
Adam Leitch
It's not a time for weak hearts but
to stand up and be counted.
There will be no hiding place and,
while the players can rest assured
honest mistakes will be tolerated, a
lack of passion will not.
And heart, with a bit of extra
quality, might well be enough in
this relegation scrap.
Saints never really got to grips
with Hull's game plan.
The home side kept the ball well
and pushed Saints back. As soon as
Saints moved up, they dumped high
balls in behind where Frazier
Campbell's pace was too much for
them to handle.
It was not just defensive problems
because, in truth, it was team failings
that brought about the result.
The midfield was often non-existent
and the lack of pace in attack
was worrying.
Saints had decent chances either
side of Hull's opener, David
McGoldrick and Stern John both
finding Bo Myhill after balls from
Jason Euell.
But that opening goal came after
just seven minutes, a long ball from
Dean Marney seeing Campbell
spin, sprint clear and finish past
the advancing Michael Poke.
For much of the rest of the first half, Saints were battered by Hull
but the fact they held on to go in
just one down at the break made
you think it might just be their
day.
If they could come out fighting
with an improved second half display,
there might just be something
there for them.
Sadly they came out worse -
much worse.
It was 2-0 ten minutes after the
restart, Henrik Pedersen lashing
home from eight yards after
Saints failed to clear a long throw
that bounced around in the area.
The third, just a minute later,
was equally as woeful, this time
Michael Turner powering home a
free header from a free-kick.
Poke was left helpless on 68 minutes
when Dean Marney fired in a
fierce low shot from 25 yards that
rocketed into the bottom corner.
After Marney had hit the post
and Euell had forced Myhill into a
good stop, Hull rounded off the
misery with a fifth in injury time,
Poke getting fingertips to Bryan
Hughes' curling shot but unable to
do any more than turn it into the
top corner.
You'd be tempted to ask how
things can get much worse.
But we all know the answer and
it's becoming ever more real.
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