WHETHER Steve Wigley is the Saints manager until the summer or a new man comes in soon, they need to get a few wins to stop a promising season slipping into obscurity.

Only last May Saints had reached the FA Cup final, finished eighth in the Premiership and booked a UEFA Cup slot.

It feels like a lifetime away now.

This season they've gone out in the first round of Europe, fallen short of the semis of the Carling Cup and seen their FA Cup dream ended in the third round.

To top that they've lost their inspiration figure, Gordon Strachan, and are now sliding down the Premiership table.

It was always going to be hard to top last season but it's now falling someway short.

Such is the tightness of this season's table that a decent finish in the last 11 games of the season could see Saints finish eighth, or even higher, again.

But for that to happen they really need to get going.

There is still one major target to overcome - getting past the 40-point barrier and securing safety.

You never would have guessed that would be a worry two months or so ago when Saints were fourth.

Then it seemed anything was possible.

In truth Saints have enough points on the board for relegation not to be a concern but it's still a target they have to meet in the next couple of months.

The only way to reach the end of the season and not view it as a disappointment is to get motoring now.

Wigley is doing his level best to hold Saints together and try to push them on.

He has admitted that a break in the fixtures at the weekend means that, if a new boss is to be appointed before the end of the season, then now would be a good time to do it.

Such a move could also provide the inspiration to lift Saints' season from a flat finish.

That's not a slight on Wigley at all. He's clearly a great coach - you only have to look at the respect he gets from his players to see that.

But it is hard when you're only the stand-in. He's not the long-term future of the first team because he's says he doesn't want the job full-time.

Even with his great coaching ability it needs somebody to provide clear direction to the players and galvanise the club to one common goal.

If Wigley is in charge until the end of the season then he could yet achieve that himself. But it's not easy when people know you won't be in charge next season. Ask Gordon Strachan about that one.

Another game drifted by at Blackburn at the weekend. A point away from home is always a good result, but it could have been a win.

Blackburn were desperately short on confidence, going into the game with the worst home record in the Premiership.

The players were edgy, the fans who bothered to turn up were edgy. The team fought hard but were there for the taking.

The amount of possession they conceded in midfield was at times incredible but Saints couldn't quite capitalise.

James Beattie and Fabrice Fernandes were restored to the starting line-up after their heroics against Everton last time out but neither was to find that kind of form again.

Fernandes struggled to get a foothold in the game while Beattie, in his first start for a month and a half, looked short on confidence. That zip and zest that is normally in his play wasn't there.

Despite that he rose highest to nod Jason Dodd's cross into the path of Kevin Phillips who spun and slotted home the opener on five minutes.

Blackburn huffed and puffed and created occasional openings. Brett Emerton and Jonathon Douglas both could have scored but a decent Antti Niemi save, a bad miss and a penalty appeal waved away put paid to that.

For Saints it was mainly Rory Delap who had the best of the chances.

What a frustrating time he's having right now. The Irishman is playing brilliantly. He's driving the midfield and breaking beyond the front two to great effect.

But every time he gets into the business area of the field something goes wrong. He's a good finish away from the complete article.

Graeme Souness made two half time changes for Rovers and started playing three up front.

It took just seven minutes to pay off when Saints conceded a comedy goal. They failed to clear the ball on several occasions and it eventually bounced off the unwitting Dodd and into the path of Andy Cole who gratefully tucked it home.

Niemi had to be strong to save twice more from Cole but the game finished in stalemate.

It's all still there in the locker for Saints. It's just a case of somebody finding the key to open it again.