IF this was John Gorman and Jason Dodd's final game in caretaker charge of Saints, they can leave with plenty of pride in what they have done.

It seems increasingly likely that a successor to George Burley will be named this week.

That will mean Dodd going back to his normal coaching role and Gorman resuming the day job as chief scout.

But when Saints called on them in an hour of need, they have stepped up and done admirably.

They have been nothing but professional in tough circumstances and you can tell how popular they are by the way the squad have performed for them.

When a manager leaves and before a new appointment is made, there can be a bit of drifting - but that hasn't happened.

Dodd and Gorman may only be caretaker bosses but the players collectively decided they didn't want to let them down and put in a good effort.

That can't go on forever, though, and the time has to come - sooner rather than later - for a permanent manager to be named.

But at least they have left a bit of momentum for the new man,whoever that is.

Their three games in charge couldn't really have run the gambit of football performances any more completely.

The first match against Bury in the FA Cup fourth round was a 2-0 win that wasn't deserved.

Saints should have lost but a large slice of fortune was dealt their way and the new manager has a last 16 tie at Bristol Rovers to look forward to. Just a couple of days later, they were taking charge of a Championship game against Norwich at St Mary's.

They deserved to win after a very good performance, but instead ended up incredibly on the losing side.

At Crystal Palace they completed the set by getting a draw and a fair result with a battling display.

My goodness, it wasn't pretty.

But on Palace's recent form, there is no denying that it is a decent point.

Dodd and Gorman may have fond memories of the occasion but like everyone else at Selhurst Park that won't apply to the game.

For the first 73 minutes, it was absolutely turgid. In fact, turgid is probably talking it up too much. It really was that bad.

Palace make no apologies for the way they are playing, and successfully so, under Neil Warnock.

It is scrappy and dogged, pumping the ball up to James Scowcroft with Clinton Morrison and Sean Scannell buzzing around trying to join in from the hold up play or pick up the flick-ons and second balls.

Really in terms of tactics, that appeared to be about it. But when your team is so big and strong, and on a bobbly pitch, it is hard to combat.

Saints went through spells of trying to get the ball down and play but understandably got dragged into playing a similar game to Palace.

It made for an absolute bore of a match before the first goal sparked things into life.

Up until that point, Saints had created just two decent chances.

The first came early on when Wayne Thomas picked out the forward run of Jason Euell. With the keeper advancing, he just had to head the ball beyond him but couldn't make a clean contact and flicked it wide.

Later in the first half Stern John slid the ball back to Bradley Wright-Phillips but he guided his side footed effort wide.

Palace struggled to even get that close before taking the lead in predictable fashion on 73 minutes.

Scowcroft used all his physical strength to hold off Darren Powell, Saints felt unfairly, and when Neil Danns headed the second ball back in the Palace striker - who scored a hat-trick at St Mary's earlier in the season - fired into the bottom corner.

Saints were lucky not to fall further behind as first Ben Watson's inswinging left wing free-kick evaded everybody and hit the post.

Then moments later Watson cut in from the right and fired a shot that clipped the top of the bar.

Dodd and Gorman threw on their subs and Saints really went for it.

The determination to get a point was clear and they did with a piece of genuine quality six minutes from time.

Marek Saganowski set Andrew Surman away down the left and he produced a superb low cross into the six-yard box which John slid home from close range.

The point was thoroughly deserved and just reward for Dodd and Gorman, who can bow out happy with their three games in charge.