ALTHOUGH Saints had not won, a familiar sound emerged from the away end at Carrow Road following the 1-1 draw with Norwich City.

“E-I-E-I-E-I-O, up the Football League we go," most of the 1,746 Saints fans sang while the rest applauded manager Russell Martin and his players.

After four games in 10 days and 10 in just over a month, the scenes inside the lower confines of the Geoffrey Watling Stand are of exhaustion.

Sam Edozie sits cruelly hurt after a nasty tackle from Jack Stacey and the dependable Adam Armstrong’s wounds need treatment.

In the defender's corner, Jan Bednarek is "totally washed out" by a stomach bug and Flynn Downes has long been at war with his body.

However, the result in Norfolk means Saints had taken 10 points from an available 12 over the festive schedule.

Daily Echo: Adam Armstrong thought his tapped opener would seal three pointsAdam Armstrong thought his tapped opener would seal three points (Image: PA)

The players have been scheduled two days off to recharge, while Martin will spend today with his children before they go back to school and preparation resumes.

Martin said: “The lads will hopefully relax and recover and enjoy their time off. They are so disappointed but so proud of the way they played.

"They are so in flow together and it's beautiful to watch. I enjoyed watching our team play today so hopefully they enjoy a couple of days off to rest." 

It is an intense time of year for Championship clubs but Saints have used the period to strengthen the relationship between the squad, and with its fans.

An almost unanimous appreciation of the effort was evidenced by the crowd’s reaction at Carrow Road, even if a chance was missed to make ground on the top two.

You will never win every game and Saints are still just three points behind second thanks to Ipswich Town drawing 0-0 at Stoke City.

Home wins against Swansea and Plymouth Argyle - the former resounding and following a 4-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers itself - won even more support.

The club will match their all-time unbeaten run record, 19, set in December 1921, if they avoid defeat next time out to Sheffield Wednesday.

The relationships on the pitch have grown to where the absence of someone like Flynn Downes can be covered for - albeit the midfielder missed.

Martin attempted to rotate the squad throughout and used 18 players across the four matches. Only Mason Holgate and Joe Lumley of the fit seniors did not play.

Joe Aribo will be missed on Nigeria duty, having played his last Championship match of the month after starting six of the last seven. 

One of Martin's pride points regarding his old Swansea squad was its ability to be chopped and changed without compromising flow. 

There are still areas for Saints to improve if they are to be the team joining Leicester City in the Premier League without the need for playoffs. 

Martin has exhibited a desire to get his chosen captain Jack Stephens back in the team despite his centre-backs refusing to give up their spot. 

The boss hit back when the Daily Echo suggested Stephens looked more comfortable after moving back into the middle than he did on the right.

"He nearly scored at right-back, mate, so I don't know what you're expecting," the boss responded.

Daily Echo: Russell Martin named Jack Stephens Saints captain following James Ward-Prowse's departureRussell Martin named Jack Stephens Saints captain following James Ward-Prowse's departure (Image: Stuart Martin)

"It shows how dominant we were and I thought he was really good. Of course, he is more comfortable in centre-half as he has played hundreds of games there.

"Walker-Peters got an assist from being high and wide and that is why we wanted him there. That was not the reason we didn't win the game." 

Martin has already hinted at rotation for this Saturday's FA Cup fixture with League Two Walsall, recently suggesting it would be "ridiculous" to start Downes.

It will be an opportunity for some fringe players such as Sekou Mara to start fixtures for the first time since September.

Academy starlet Tyler Dibling has also been targeting the match as a potential chance to make his point for weeks and Sam Amo-Ameyaw will likely be the same.

Crucially, it will be some rest for the troops. Maybe even Kyle Walker-Peters, who has played all 2,340 minutes this campaign (and more with added time).