In the midst of a disappointing defeat it can be easy to question things like character, spirit and desire.

As a professional sports person, the absolute minimum you should do is try your best.

There are always going to be some things beyond your control, and in a team sport those variables increase exponentially.

The very vast majority of pros do give their best every time they play, and so it can be a kneejerk reaction to attempt to blame some sort of lack of heart for things going wrong.

Saints’ squad knew that those sort of charges were being laid at their door after not only an iffy start to the season, but a defeat at home to Watford in which they were outplayed.

If you are in a position where you have to respond then you know you have landed in a tough spot, but exactly what you do about it says far more than how you got there in the first place.

Saints answered a lot of questions as they responded superbly at Crystal Palace.

It would have been so easy to travel away from home to face a team with a new manager, with home support behind them, and to have wilted.

But they stood up individually and collectively to get a win that you feel gets their season back on track again, or at least gives a platform to build from.

In these circumstances you need characters and leaders.

While Saints had a number of stronger performers – the outstanding Mario Lemina included – it was a day to really focus on one man. Steven Davis.

He scored the winning goal on his 200th appearance for the club, and what a fantastic signing he has proven to be.

He is Saints’ Mr Dependable.

Not only is he far more creative and skilful than he often given credit for, but his work rate, his professionalism and his determination are huge for the club and a lesson to young players everywhere.

There is no hint of the stereotypical flash Premier League player in Davis. He is a solid pro trying to make the best of his career every single time he steps out on to the pitch.

Saints, and Mauricio Pellegrino, are so lucky to have him.

Thankfully he was restored to the attacking midfield role, almost a number ten position, that those who regularly read these pages will know is so often championed here.

To play Davis deep is to lose so much of what he has to offer.

Alright, he may not be flash or glamorous, he may not be a number ten to keep the crowd on the edge of their seats, but he is so effective, and much more so than anybody else Saints have for that role.

Any manager would be well advised to consider putting Davis in the central attacking role of the three behind the main striker in the 4-2-3-1 and then working out who to play around him to make the most use of his abilities.

His strike after six minutes at Selhurst Park ultimately proved to be the difference between the teams in terms of the scoreline, even if the gulf in class was far wider.

Davis started the move by playing the ball out to Dusan Tadic on the right and finished it as he calmly slotted into the bottom corner after the Serbian’s cross had been palmed his way by the diving Wayne Hennessey.

Saints dominated the first half but couldn’t carve out too many clear openings despite the fact they were clearly far superior to Palace, who looked shaky at the back and lacking any confidence in the final third.

Christian Benteke, to whom they so often went long, had an opening on 16 minutes on the turn in the six yard box but picked out Fraser Forster, who did well to stand tall to be able to save from close range.

Palace had a brief rally at the start of the second half and probably should have levelled things up.

They couldn’t get anybody on the end of Rueben Loftus-Cheek’s low drive into the six yard box, while Jason Puncheon would have scored had he put a shot from close range anywhere other than in reach of Forster, who again made himself a formidable target as he dived across goal to save.

Oriol Romeu probably should have wrapped things up with a free header from a Davis corner while Cedric Soares extended Hennessey in the closing stages with shot at the near post after cutting in from the right.

The return of Virgil van Dijk for the final moments of the game as Saints prepared for an aerial bombardment towards Benteke that never really came – Palace seemed already mentally defeated by then – was an added bonus.

Pellegrino has done the hard bit and got him back onto the pitch for the first time. It has removed the elephant from the room.

The reaction of the Saints fans, who applauded van Dijk and sung his name despite all that happened with his summer transfer request, was an added bonus and will help smooth the reintegration process.

Saints can now take on Manchester United at St Mary’s with a spirit of optimism, and a chance to feel they can have a go at the game, and what would be a massive win, without the pressure of feeling they have to get a victory.

Beyond all else they have at least dispelled a lot of negativity, and that was much needed.