Saints fell back to 15 points off the play-offs as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Exeter.

An even first half was lit up by Adam Lallana’s goal which set Saints on their way.

But when Matt Taylor headed home from a set-piece to equalise in the second half it meant that both sides had to settle for a point.

The St James’ Park pitch was never going to make a flowing passing game easy for either side.

It was cutting up quickly making it very bobbly while there was little life in it meaning the bounce of the ball was uneven and often very dead.

Saints adjusted their formation early on to go to a flat back and midfield four with Jason Puncheon playing just off of Rickie Lambert.

The unpredictable bounce of the pitch caused Saints a problem on ten minutes when a high ball over the top was chased down by Adam Stansfield.

Jon Otsemobor was trying to shepherd the ball back to Kelvin Davis but it barely bounced allowing Stansfield to get a toe to it but the keeper was able to block the effort from just inside his area.

Lambert threatened for the first time on 15 minutes when he latched on to a pass from Adam Lallana. He cut inside and fired in a shot but it was bravely blocked by the body of Rob Edwards.

Papa Waigo had the first shot on target of the game on 17 minutes.

Waigo raced on to Lambert’s flick on but his near post shot was saved by Andy Marriott.

The Saints medical team were having to work hard on Dan Seaborne.

The centre half got a cut to his head early on which required treatment and a change of shirt and he needed the same again on 26 minutes to allow him to continue.

With half an hour gone the game had yet to come to life.

In the tricky conditions it was something of a battle and a total stalemate with neither side able to create a chance of any real note.

Morgan Schneiderlin sidefooted a shot towards goal from 25 yards out on 34 minutes but it was a comfortable save for Marriott.

But, when Lallana’s quick feet created the first decent chance of the game the Saints man made no mistake and put his side 1-0 up on 37 minutes.

Lloyd James hung up a cross from the right that Lallana took down, he showed a great piece of skill to cut inside Steve Tully, who was left on the ground and finished low across Marriott and into the far corner.

Jason Puncheon had an opportunity to mark his debut with a first half goal when he was given the ball in the area by Waigo but he fired his effort over the bar from 12 yards out.

There was a flare-up in first half stoppage time when Waigo smashed the ball from point blank range into the Exeter subs.

The referee chose just to have a word with Waigo and blew the half time whistle shortly afterwards.

Seaborne became the first player in the book three minutes after the restart for a trip on Liam Sercombe.

Things got worse for Saints when they conceded an equaliser on 49 minutes.

Scott Golbourne whipped in an outswinging corner to the far post where Matt Taylor powered through a group of players to slam home a header from six yards out for 1-1.

Schneiderlin was the second man booked for kicking the ball away.

Saints were lucky not to concede another on 60 minutes when Ryan Harley squared the ball across the face of the six yard box and picked out Barry Corr who was unable to get it out from under his feet and finish before Saints bodies got in the way.

Lallana had an opportunity up the other end when Puncheon cut the ball back to him but this time Marriott was able to save before Lambert blasted the follow up wide.

Pardew made his first switch when Michail Antonio came off for Waigo on 63 minutes. Saints went to 4-4-2 with Antonio playing up front alongside Lambert, Puncheon on the right of midfield and Lallana on the left.

Exeter made their first substitution on 73 minutes with Berti Cozic replacing Joe Burnell.

Lambert had a chance to line up a free kick 35 yards out in a fairly central position after Tully chopped down Antonio.

The kick took a deflection off the wall and changed direction, looping just high and wide with Marriott rooted to the spot.

Puncheon drilled a low shot towards goal on 79 minutes but it was straight down the middle and saved by Marriott.

Pardew made a second change with ten minutes remaining with Wayne Thomas on for James.

Thomas went to right back with Ostemobor moving to right midfield and Puncheon into the centre.

There was a sense that Saints knew they had to push for a winner to help keep their play-off dreams alive and kicking while Exeter, though still lively on the break, were trying to remain solid and ensure they at least got themselves a point.

Harley whipped a central free kick round the wall but wide on 87 minutes.

Both sides made a change moments later with Stansfield replaced by Richard Logan for Exeter and Lee Barnard on for Otsemobor for Saints.

Barnard went up front with Antonio moving to the right of midfield.

Thomas was the third Saints player booked for a foul.

As the game wore into four minutes of stoppage time Cozic turned just outside the area and curled a shot that Davis just appeared to get fingertips to to turn on to the post.

Saints had appeals for a penalty for handball waved away in the very dying seconds before Seaborne looped a shot over the bar from just six yards out.

That was the last action of the match which ended in a deserved draw but one that did Saints no favours in their quest to reach the play-offs.

Full reaction and match report in Monday's Daily Echo.