EVERTON 0 - SAINTS 0

So much of Saints' play is good at the moment that it's hard to fault the side too much.

But at the end of the day they aren't scoring goals and that's a big problem in football.

Gordon Strachan is quite correct in his assessment of the situation.

There are plenty of positives - the work-rate, the determination and the ability to keep things tight at the back. But when it comes to the final third, something's missing.

Although it has now been four games without a goal, it would be wrong to pretend this is a new problem.

It was exactly the same as last season and what everybody feared would happen if James Beattie wasn't hitting the net so frequently - no criticism of him for that, it was near impossible to repeat last season's heroics.

With Kevin Phillips still suspended for another two games, it presents Strachan with a dilemma that is not easily solvable.

Saints can't buy a goal right now. But they need some.

It's great to be strong in defence but that doesn't win you games - goals do.

And that's why lethal finishers or creative midfielders are the most expensive players to buy.

Make no mistake, coming away from Goodison Park with a point is a good result and before the game most fans would have settled for it.

But when you have a few good chances in a game and enough of the ball to expect to have created even better ones, it feels a slight downer.

Saints' best openings of the first half came in the space of three minutes just before and just after the half hour mark.

Fabrice Fernandes turned in a cross which bounced around in the Everton penalty area before Brett Ormerod span and hit a shot.

It had to be quickly hit but from close range you would have hoped for better than putting it straight at Nigel Martyn.

The Everton keeper almost gifted Saints an opener on 32 minutes when he charged out of his area but hopelessly sliced his clearance.

The ball was picked up by Beattie on the right wing but his shot drifted narrowly past the far post from a very difficult position.

In the second period Saints dominated long spells of the game, retaining possession and looking forceful. Yet it never quite happened for them where it matters most. Perhaps it needed a bit of luck. Or perhaps somebody to be brave and shoulder the pressure.

Either way, there were no goals.

Beattie headed just over the bar on 53 minutes while Rory Delap should have at least hit the target on 75 minutes when he found himself meeting Danny Higginbotham's flick from Anders Svensson's corner.

Just a minute later Beattie's shot went straight at Martyn and then in the dying seconds of injury time Saints could have snatched it.

Paul Telfer got in a high and deep cross which picked out David Prutton with time and space at the far post.

He watched the ball carefully but at the final moment he lent back and blasted the ball so far over it sailed out of the stadium. No mean feat from well inside the Everton area.

And with that went Saints' final good chance to win the game.

But there were positives - notably the clean sheet, thanks to a strong midfield and defence led superbly by the immense Michael Svensson.

They contained Everton well, even though David Moyes felt his side had the better chances.

In the third minute Antti Niemi had to be alert to turn over Gary Naysmith's cross-turned-shot and the Finn also did well from James McFadden.

Kevin Campbell spun and hit a shot into the side netting when he should have worked Niemi on 16 minutes while Campbell had the ball in the net just before half time only for it to be ruled out for offside.

McFadden missed what was probably Everton's best chance when he volleyed wide when free at the far post. He rightly went across goal but failed to hit the target.

There was a rare moment of panic for Niemi after 67 minutes when he flapped at a cross and Steve Watson's header missed from close range.

Saints looked comfortable in defence. It's just that quality in their final ball and composure in front of goal they're lacking.