SAINTS 0 - HULL 0

Consistently they are inconsistent - so near a team that will storm up the division, yet sometimes it feels so far away.

This was another game they should have won, both on paper and on the day.

But it was another game they didn't.

Trouble is, it's becoming a bit of a habit at the moment.

Sure, teams are coming to St Mary's - and sometimes even when playing at home - and packing the midfield to deny Saints room to play in dangerous areas.

Yes, they are getting men behind the ball and challenging Saints to break them down, offering little in the way of attack, hoping to just snatch a goal on the counter attack or from a set-piece.

That's frustrating. But it's the way of the world and Saints have to learn how to dispatch teams who play like that.

Don't think it was any different for Reading last season. They endured much of the same, though their style of play was slightly more direct than Saints.

So just what are the problems?

It's not just bad luck that's caused a slump in form over the last few weeks, though Saints have had their fair share.

It's not their defensive record - only five teams in the Championship have conceded fewer goals.

It's been breaking teams down and converting chances.

As anybody will tell you, scoring goals is the key to getting out of this division and Saints' record so far of 20 goals in 16 games is not enough.

Grzegorz Rasiak has got eight of those on his own which means the other nine outfield positions have yielded 12 goals between them.

Only five have come from other strikers, including against Wolves where Rasiak was injured.

Again, that is not enough.

Manager George Burley has done an admirable job; he had a monumental task in turning around the squad.

It doesn't matter what argument anybody gives me: he needed to do this for the long-term future of the club and he deserves our support.

However, in the striking department, Saints seem light in numbers.

They have just four strikers and that feels one short.

As we have seen, you only need one injury - on this occasion to Rasiak - and you are exposed.

Kenwyne Jones and Bradley Wright-Phillips looked tired after their efforts against Wolves.

But the only other striker you have to call upon is David McGoldrick, a talented youngster but one with little first-team experience.

The other striker on the club's books is Leon Best but, until last week, he had been on loan at Bournemouth.

When you look at Saints' bench at the weekend, it was strong.

There are good players, but Burley is short on those he can throw on that can change a game, whether in the striking department or attacking midfield.

This is a circumstance that has developed as the season has worn on and, if others at the club feel the same, then they must utilise whatever means possible to address the situation.

It's not doom and gloom time, though, and there are some who need to remind themselves of that.

Saints haven't had a good run with just two wins in their last seven league matches. But they are still only three points off of the play-offs.

The thing about the Championship this year is that nobody has been massively consistent and it makes for an exciting and open division.

Saints know if they put a run together, then they will be right up there.

Against Hull it was a case of whether Saints could break them down.

They came close, a number of shots from distance going near, while Inigo Idiakez almost scored direct from a corner and rattled the post with a curling free kick in the second half.

Hull did create a couple of openings, Gareth Bale having to block on the line from Jon Parkin in the first half and Stuart Elliot firing a free-kick just over in the second.

Saints were becoming increasingly frustrated at Hull's tactics and it boiled over when assistant manager Glynn Snodin clashed with Tigers boss Phil Parkinson and Craig Fagan on the touchline before being ordered to the stands.

But Saints came so close to snatching the points late on, Kenwyne Jones seeing a first header cleared off the line and a second go narrowly wide.

It typified Saints of late.

You know they can get on that run.

It just has to start somewhere.