Saints could only manage a disappointing 0-0 draw with Burnley at St Mary's.

After a dreadful first half, Saints did step up a gear in the second period to dominate the game and look like the only possible winners.

The result extended their recent good run to just one defeat in their last 15 matches but they were unable to find the inspiration to create a single clear-cut chance and they paid the price as they took away one point from a game from which they really should have had three.

Saints got themselves into a good position in the first two minutes, Grzegorz Rasiak going down 25 yards from goal on the left side of the area.

Gareth Bale stepped up to take the free kick but it clipped the top of the wall and goalkeeper Mike Pollitt was able to claim it as it dropped down.

Burnley had their first effort on eight minutes, Eric Djemba-Djemba driving in a shot from distance that flew just over the bar while Bale had another free kick from a similar range to the first that he put over.

Kelvin Davis had to make his first save on 22 minutes to block from Ade Akinbiyi's feet from a difficult angle after the ball had bounced through to the striker.

The St Mary's crowd finally had something to get excited about on 30 minutes when Kenwyne Jones stormed down the right, got to the by-line and put a low cross into the six yard box but it was cut out by Wayne Thomas.

Jon Harley became the first man in the book on 36 minutes when he brought down Mario Licka on the right wing.

Darren Powell followed a minute late after tussling with Thomas in the area as the referee came in for some stick from the crowd.

Pele at least had an effort for Saints five minutes before the half-time break but his half volley from outside the area went over the crossbar.

Burley made a half-time change with Bradley Wright-Phillips replacing the ineffective Jones in attack.

But it was Davis who was the first keeper in action, having to turn a high ball over the bar.

Kyle Lafferty had the first decent chance of the game on 50 minutes after he powered through a couple of challenges but his shot under pressure in the area was at a nice height for Davis to save.

David McGoldrick on the left of midfield had been comfortably the biggest threat and he drove wide on 54 minutes as Saints did start to step up their play.

Suddenly it was Saints in total control and they had big appeals for a penalty waved away after Rasiak went down in the area under the challenge of Thomas.

Saints came close again on 64 minutes as Rasiak and McGoldrick between them just failed to get in a shot in the area.

Bale was proving a real tormentor to the Burnley defence down the left and as Wright-Phillips saw a shot deflected wide there was a real feeling of momentum behind Saints - but they needed to turn that into a goal.

Burnley came close on 76 minutes when Akinbiyi met a low cross at the near post. He flicked it goalwards but the referee decided it deflected off a Saints defender and went just wide.

Rasiak sent a half volley from the left wing across goal but just wide on 79 minutes as Saints searched for that moment of inspiration to get them a goal and surely three points.

Saints another penalty appeal waved away with nine minutes left as Licka went down in a crowded box. Moments later Licka had an effort from 40 yards that Pollitt had to get his body behind to catch.

Saints were in total control but Burnley were proving resolute and difficult to break down and held out for a point.

For full match report see this weekend's Pink.