THERE’S something about playing against a Paul Ince team that Saints just seem to love.

The former England midfielder has now faced Saints five times as a manager – and lost on every single occasion.

The latest defeat came in his first match in charge of Notts County yesterday.

As MK Dons manager last season, Ince pitted his team against Saints on four separate occasions.

Each time, they were soundly beaten – twice in both the league and the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

But Saturday’s defeat at Meadow Lane will be the toughest of the lot for Ince to take, as his team dominated the majority of the game.

Saints were outfought and outthought for the first hour or so in Nottingham, as the arrival of the former Manchester United, Liverpool and Inter Milan midfielder clearly inspired the County players.

And Nigel Adkins’ team was lucky to be trailing by just a single goal when the game turned completely on its head midway through the second half.

Rickie Lambert’s penalty, after John Thompson was sent off for bringing down Lee Barnard, brought Saints level.

And they kicked on impressively from there to ultimately win 3-1.

But the result would have left a bemused Ince scratching his head and wondering how, yet again, Saints had got the better of him.

Whatever the reason, though, this Guv’nor certainly doesn’t seem able to boss the Saints.