Saints slipped deeper into relegation trouble with a terrible 2-1 defeat to Doncaster at St Mary’s.

In a truly depressing second half Saints conceded two goals to see Rovers leapfrog them in the table and leave Jan Poortvliet’s team second from bottom in the Championship.

The mood at St Mary’s also changed as the fans, who had been supportive all season, turned and protested once again about Saints chairman Rupert Lowe.

Saints threatened Doncaster inside the opening 30 seconds when David McGoldrick fed the ball through to Andrew Surman but his drilled low shot was blocked by a defender.

It was a terrific start to the game from Saints who won a series of corners and in open play were putting their visitors under a huge amount pressure, causing all manners of problems in their box.

Bradley Wright-Phillips was the next to get a shot away on seven minutes, this time his well struck effort from just outside the box flew narrowly over the bar.

But despite all that it was Kelvin Davis who was the first keeper to see action, diving at the feet of Lewis Guy to stop him getting his shot away before Jan-Paul Saeijs headed behind.

From the corner Saeijs’ weak header fell straight to Sam Hird but his first time volley was saved by Davis with a strong one handed block.

The chances just kept coming and on ten minutes some slick Saints passing led to Lee Holmes shooting goalwards but Neil Sullivan saved with his legs.

The game was developing into a really open affair with some terrific passing and movement from both sides.

Holmes had a great chance to give Saints the lead on 13 minutes when the ball was squared to him eight yards out at the far post but he totally mishit his shot and it went harmlessly wide.

Some four minutes later Marek Saganowski drilled a shot in but Sullivan again saved with legs, this time at his near post, and when the ball came out to Wright-Phillips his effort from the edge of the area was well hit but directed wide.

Saganowski got another effort on target on 27 minutes, this time a header from a corner but the man on the post cleared off the line.

James Chambers was the first man in the book two minutes later for a late challenge on Saganowski.

Saints were lucky to get away with one on 34 minutes when Doncaster chipped the ball in the box and there was a communication breakdown between Davis and Morgan Schneiderlin that left the keeper lying on the floor.

However, James Coppinger’s overhead kick from the edge of the area was off target and wide of the open goal.

Surman tried his luck from 25 yards three minutes later but his effort went well over the bar.

Davis had to make another good save on 38 minutes, this time to keep out Coppinger’s near post shot.

Surman was the first Saints player in the book for chopping down Brian Stock.

At half time the game was somehow goalless but the three points looked there for the taking for whoever could produce a bit more quality in the final third.

It certainly didn’t stay goalless for long in the second half as Doncaster took the lead just 12 seconds after the restart.

John Spicer ran directly at the Saints defence before Coppinger took a shot from the edge of the area that deflected off Wright-Phillips and into the path of Martin Woods unmarked 12 yards out and his first time finish beat Davis and flew into the bottom corner for 1-0.

Suddenly Doncaster’s game plan changed and from being quite adventurous they were sitting deep and getting behind the ball in an attempt to stifle Saints’ chances of getting an equaliser.

Poortvliet reacted by making a double chance on minutes with Ryan Smith and Adam Lallana coming on for Holmes and Chris Perry. Saints switched to a 3-2-3-2 formation with Saganowski and McGoldrick up front.

Saeijs was the next in the book for a totally needless foul.

Despite it being Saints who needed a goal, Davis was the next keeper in action, standing up tall to beat away Coppinger’s shot which was driven straight at him.

McGoldrick at least managed to get a rare Saints shot away on 69 minutes but from outside the area he put it over the bar.

Doncaster made their first switch on 70 minutes with Gareth Taylor replacing Guy.

As frustration grew at St Mary’s came the first sustained anti-Rupert Lowe protests as huge swathes of the ground protested against the PLC chairman who was not at the game.

Doncaster must have been absolutely delighted with the way the match was going. Though they were having to work very hard they had only looked genuinely stretched a couple of times since they took the lead.

Saganowski at least did test Sullivan with a long range effort on 77 minutes but the keeper turned it wide.

Smith fired in a brilliant shot from 25 yards moments later which Sullivan acrobatically turned over the bar.

But with toothelss Saints unable to find a way through the almost inevitable happened.

Doncaster sealed their win with nine minutes remaining as Saints stood off and allowed them to knock the ball about.

It ended with Coppinger getting to the by-line on the left, cutting in, rounding Davis and finishing from a yard out for 2-0.

The mood was turning ugly in the ground as stewards moved in remove angry fans and others congregated around the dugout as some supporters shouted at Poortvliet.

Doncaster two late switches with Mark Wilson and Jos van Nieuwstadt replacing Coppinger and Spicer.

As the fourth official held up the board showing four minutes of injury time Saints got a lifeline as the ball broke in the box and Saganowski slid in to finish into the far corner for 2-1.

But it was too little too late as Saints’ dismal home form continued and all the good work at Barnsley was suddenly undone.

Report, reaction and pictures in The Pink and Monday's Daily Echo.