Southampton 1-2 Crystal Palace: Three match takeaways

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 02: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Southampton and Crystal Palace at St Mary's Stadium on January 2, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 02: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Southampton and Crystal Palace at St Mary's Stadium on January 2, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 02: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Southampton and Crystal Palace at St Mary’s Stadium on January 2, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 02: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Southampton and Crystal Palace at St Mary’s Stadium on January 2, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

After another disappointing and frustrating night at St Mary’s, it’s tough to find many positives for Southampton fans to take away.

At least there were individual performances that drew fair, positive attention. Indeed we have certainly endured worse team performances over the past few months than this 2-1 loss, but it was the inability to see out a win that underlies the fans’ despondency.

Even from a winning position it seemed inevitable that Saints would come away with little to nothing, and that belief looks as if it has spread to the manager and players.

Fans are becoming worryingly used to late disappointments, and this was yet another example of that.

So if not points, what can we take away from the match?