THERE ARE a number of different ways of looking at this game.

The first, and probably most obvious, is to be disappointed that Saints didn't win.

When you look at the fixtures before the match, you would have pencilled this down as a home win, so to only get one point is a disappointment.

You can also be frustrated with the quality of the game, or rather the excitement level of the game, which was not great.

However, on the reverse side, it's not all bad.

It did underline where the deficiencies are in the squad, some of which are caused by injuries, some by not having the correct players or correct number of players.

That proved to anybody in the stadium that may have had a doubt that two quality loan signings are not preferable but essential if this season to end in a successful promotion campaign.

There was also the encouraging signs at the back.

Kelvin Davis gets a lot of stick but, aside from one minor slip-up, his concentration was first rate and he really did act as a sweeper.

Then there is the backline, which looks very good now.

Chris Baird is still getting used to playing at right back again but there is no doubting his quality and he will soon prove to be the best in that position in the division.

The centre-half pairing of Claus Lundekvam and Darren Powell looks solid.

Then there is Gareth Bale on the left.

Plenty has been said and written about him but, whether he signs a new contract or not, he must be retained until the end of the season.

He cannot be replaced this month.

Also, you have to give credit to Burnley, who aren't a bad team.

The first half really was an awful affair.

Davis made a save from a half chance for Ade Akinbiyi while Kenwyne Jones, who otherwise had a half to forget, made a run and put in a cross that was cleared in the six- yard box.

In the second half, Saints did step up their game a little, but they probably moved up one gear rather than two or three.

Bradley Wright-Phillips made a difference in injecting a bit of pace in attack but the midfield, which has plenty of injuries, looked inbalanced.

David McGoldrick did quite well on the left but looks like a striker playing out wide - which is what he is - while Mario Licka is also a good player but is more a central midfielder than a right-sided one.

Needs must of course but the sooner a loan is sorted on the right and Rudi Skacel gets back the better.

Davis had to save from Akinbiyi again in the second half but it was Saints doing most of the pressing.

They could have had two penalties. The first came when Grzegorz Rasiak went down when challenged by Wayne Thomas. It might have been but he made too much of it to be given.

The second looked clear-cut as Licka was brought down by McGreal but again it wasn't given.

Bale's persistent runs down the left did cause problems but Saints never created themselves what you would call a good chance, the luck also not being with them in the box when balls were bouncing around.

Unfortunately, it was one point rather than three, which is not really enough. But, on the flip side, you could take out of the game what you wanted to.

For full match report and analysis see Monday Sport.