GEORGE Burley must feel he has one of the toughest jobs in football at the moment - and he might well be right.

He is effectively having to try and manage with one hand tied behind his back.

You don't have to always agree with his decisions to appreciate the predicament he finds himself in.

Having been forced to sell his best two players during the summer, trim the wage bill further and with virtually no resources to go and invest, it's a tough ask. In fact it's even harder than that.

The Saints boss is putting on a brave face but inside he must surely be struggling.

In terms of football management his job is such a difficult one.

And, after two poor defeats to start the season, the pressure is going to be on him.

You would imagine he wants to get on the roof of St Mary's and shout what else can I do? I didn't want to sell my best players but it's for the good of the club.' Forget these recent results just for a moment. Even if the problems continue, his job should be safe. If Saints lose Burley then the real strife will begin.

The essence of the problem for Burley is managing expectations.

Saints still have decent players in the squad but clearly have a few gaping holes that need to be filled and they probably won't all be before the transfer window closes.

On the back of that Burley is expected to get the team challenging for promotion again.

Though Burley hasn't curried favour with elements of the St Mary's crowd for a few of his team selections you can see where the problems arise.

The reality of the situation is that Saints can finish in the top six again. But they are in a weaker position to do so than they were last season and so, when Burley is judged on results, that has to be taken into account.

He is still the best man Saints could get for this job and, the more backing he gets, the better he might well be able to do.

However, he's got early troubles to turn around now.

After Saturday's nightmare 4-1 defeat against Crystal Palace, a game three days later against lower league opposition was on paper the perfect chance to get the season back on track. But, as is the way with football, perhaps the trip to Peterborough on the back of the Palace result produced more anxiety than expectation amongst the players.

Burley has used the majority of his squad over the two games so far this season, only missing injured and suspended players and perhaps the results and performances show the problem areas.

The decision he will soon have to make is whether to sell Kenwyne Jones or not in order to put them right.

Burley doesn't want to sell the striker but, given current circumstances, even the most ardent Jones fan would have to concede that, if the money he would generate was reinvested in the squad now, it could be the difference this season.

As long as the money goes to the squad there won't be any accusing fingers at the board or Burley if they do decide to take the money and spend, sacrificing one man for several new faces.

At Peterborough last night the need for cover in areas of the squad was again highlighted.

Saints were improved from Saturday and, while playing against lower league opposition, they did face a team with a raft of summer signings and a side that should walk away with the division they're in this season. They were no ordinary League Two side.

Even so though a defeat for Saints was a poor result.

Peterborough took the lead on 21 minutes when Dean Keates's corner was inadvertently flicked into his own net by Grzegorz Rasiak.

Rudi Skacel's free kick from 25 yards was turned on to the post by Shwan Jalal but it was 2-0 on 26 minutes when some poor Saints defending allowed George Boyd the chance to stab home.

Aaron Mclean had two chances before half time to virtually seal the tie for the Posh but fluffed both but the same could not be said of Rasiak who handed his side a lifeline, sliding in at the far post to convert Nathan Dyer's cross after some good work on the right by the little winger.

The second half was far quieter and Posh made it tough going for Saints. Mclean hit the bar for the home side, while Skacel and Bradley Wright-Phillips made Jalal work. But Saints couldn't find a breakthrough and went out of the competition. In the long run it may be a blessing in disguise but with Norwich away on Saturday things don't get much easier for Burley or Saints.