CLAUS LUNDEKVAM rated last night's first-half display among the very worst of this hugely disappointing season.

Saints did improve after the break, but by then it was too late with Birmingham holding out for a 2-1 win after dominating the opening period.

"It was some of the worst we have performed in the first-half," admitted Lundekvam.

"We were very, very poor. We are disappointed with that. Far too many of us didn't perform at all.

"We were second best all over the field and that gave us a mountain to climb in the second-half. We came back stronger, but it's very, very difficult when you give teams a two-goal start.

"There were too many senior players, myself included, not doing our jobs in the first-half."

Birmingham's goals came from Walter Pandiani and Robbie Blake, before Saints' new loan signing Henri Camara pulled one back with a wonderful strike early in the second-half.

Lundekvam said Saints could only look forward and make sure that they did not make such a slow start again.

He said: "It's very disappointing because we came up with a bit of confidence and we were looking forward to getting three points or at least one.

"This has happened quite a few times away from home. We have given teams a head start and it makes things very difficult. The second-half was a bit better.

"We competed much better and Camara has come and scored a cracking goal. He is going to be a good addition.

"But we are very disappointed. We have to look forward, we have to realise we are in a dog-fight and we have to perform at the level we played in the second-half, every game."

Lundekvam knows that Saints desperately need to improve their away form after picking up just two points on their travels all season.

The centre-back added: "We can't rely on our home form until the end of the season, you need to pick up some points away. So far this season our away form has been very poor. We need to do something there.

"We all like to show our supporters at home what we are good at, but it shouldn't be like that.

"We should be as good away from home and as hard to beat away from home."