SAINTS boss Glenn Hoddle saw his side bash their heads against Charlton's solid brick wall and said: "We had the chances to have sewn the game up, without a doubt."

It was only Saints' second Premiership home shut-out this season and Hoddle said: "We should have won it as we created the chances, but the little clinical edge that we have had was just missing."

Hoddle's admitted disppointment was a sign of Saints' progress and the increased expectation levels under the former England coach.

Saints stretched their home run to one defeat in seven league and cup matches, and keeper Paul Jones kept his fifth successive clean sheet at The Dell.

But the expectation levels at The Dell these days dictate that Saints should claim all three points against sides like Charlton and Hoddle said: "I'm disappointed for the right reasons, not that we played poorly or didn't create, but simply that we didn't convert the chances to get the win.

"We had 15 efforts on goal, of which eight were on target and that's not a bad start.

"But their keeper had a particularly good game, with a slight touch that I didn't realise he got to the shot from Matt Oakley that hit the bar, and a great save low down from Oaks later."

Marian Pahars failed a Saturday morning fitness test on a calf injury and Hoddle said: "On another given day, Marian might have been the difference and made a goal out of nothing for us. But we created enough and had enough opportunities shared throughout the team, not limited to just one player, and that's a good sign.

"It just wasn't for us and we have to maintain our belief and go to Tottenham and get a result.

"I'm pleased with the clean sheet again, and Jonesy hasn't had much to do. They didn't get behind us, everything they did was in front of us. They try to hit you on the break and they won 4-1 at Manchester City, but they never really threatened us."

Hoddle was also pleased with the brief contirbution from new signing Dan Petrescu, who got 15 minutes off the bench.

"It's difficult when you join a club on Thursay and meet your new team-mates on Friday. But I thought he did very well in his short time. He uses the ball well, and he'll give us different options."