Blackburn now have four points from six from St. Mary's. Saints have come a long way since last year's late Hignett winner, and the player's reaction to Andy Cole's equaliser showed the huge disappointment at not being able to collect all three points Heads went into hands and players looked forlorn as, with only moments, left the chance of taking the lead again were almost zero.
Gordon Strachan's Saints are a far different proposition to the lack lustre outfit under the charge of Stuart Gray. Niemi is a class act in goal, Lundekvam is simply immense at the back and in the attacking runs of Bridge and Fernandes, Saints can now link up with their strikers who are revelling in the increased number of chances. It's just a shame that Saints can't convert more of these opportunities as , all too often, they have let one goal advantages slip from their grasp.
Saints started yesterday's game in their usual bright mood, with Fernandes getting a cross into James Beattie within the opening minute. It was to be the start of a busy afternoon for Blackburn's superb 'keeper Brad Friedel.
A minute later Friedel had to be alert to make a save from the industrious Brett Ormerod. Saints were getting all of the early pressure.
Anders Svensson's ball across the face of goal was to be Saints last clear cut effort in the opening twenty minutes. Although Saints were getting the better of the play, they weren't quite so penetrating as Blackburn got their wits back after the opening barrage.
Blackburn's first effort came on 19 minutes as Andy Cole got a shot in after trying to get past Claus Lundekvam. Lundekvam's presence made the save an easy one for Antti Niemi.
Saints showed their creative flair two minutes later, as Fabrice Fernandes took the ball past two players before his rather weak left foot effort was taken by Friedel.
The ability of Fernandes to run at defences has opened up a number of attacking options for the Saints which Ormerod and Beattie have responded well to.
Fernandes next effort went well wide after Anders Svensson found him in space.
Saints went closer a minute later with Ormerod's flick on coming off Marsden only to go inches wide of the post.
Saints continued to press forward. Anders Svensson surged through the centre only to hit a shot straight at Friedel from range. The lack of a Saints opener, although frustrating, was tempered by the fact that Blackburn's attack was non-existent. There was no threat of conceding a goal at that stage of the match.
Saints continued pressure saw Friedel save a Beattie header comfortably after a good cross by Dodd.
In the end, Saints could only get the ball into the net from a set piece. Anders Svensson's trickery was too much for the Blackburn defenders and on 37 minutes he was brought down in the box. Beattie made no mistake form the spot kick with a powerful shot.
Two minutes after the restart, Blackburn did manage to get the ball into the net, but it was clearly offside and there was no panic from the Saints side. Blackburn came forward towards the interval as Saints looked to go into half time with a one goal lead. A David Thompson effort was as close as the visitors came and it must have been a fairly content Saints dressing room receiving Strachan's comments.
As usual, Saints started the second half more alert than their opponents, with both Marsden ad Fernandes bringing saves from Friedel.
Friedel continued to be Blackburn's star player, palming away a Fernandes shot on fifty seven minutes.
It took until the sixty second minute for Blackburn to get an effort in on the Saints goal. As it was David Dunn's shot went well wide. David Thompson's effort two minutes later went a lot closer.
While Saints continued to pull the Blackburn defence apart, there was still only a goal in it.
Saints continued to hit a fair number of shots straight at the imposing Friedel, with Beattie being the culprit on sixty nine minutes. Having nutmegged his opponent, Beattie's better option would have been to pass it across the goal.
Ex-Saint Egil Ostenstad came on for Blackburn after sixty nine minutes. Ostenstad has had a good run of form of late, having spent a few seasons in the footballing wilderness. Not that the Saints fans cared, giving him a good booing anyway.
Saints received a promising free kick in the seventy third minute, from eighteen yards out. Fernandes' effort left a lot to be desired, going well over the bar.
Having learnt to his cost, the downside of bringing on a defensive minded player for an attacker, Gordon Strachan chose to simply replace Brett Ormerod with Marians Pahars. While this seemed like a good move in theory, even a tired Ormerod, and there was no doubt he was, looked capable of giving more than a fully fit Pahars.
Pahars is superb in certain situations, but Saints needed someone to harry and press and also to hold the ball up. Pahars really didn't perform too well in those areas yesterday.
Pahars did immediately get into the action though, getting on the end of Friedel's deflection from a long range Fernandes shot. The Latvian couldn't capitalise on the opportunity and Saints still only had a single goal from all their endeavour.
Saints looked more secure as Tugay received his second yellow card of the afternoon, for not allowing a free kick too be taken.
As Blackburn looked for the equaliser, Saints had the opportunity to catch them on counter attacks. Pahars, Anders Svensson and James Beattie all had weak efforts at Friedel in the closing ten minutes of the game.
As the game went into injury time, Lucas Neil kept the ball in play on the touchline and proceeded to get a ball in across the face of goal. The ball deflected of the leg of a grateful Andy Cole and went past Niemi.
Although Chris Marsden then got a ball across the Blackburn goal, there was little chance that a thoroughly demoralised Saints team were going to get ahead having squandered numerous chances to do so earlier.
Saints inability in executing moves to hold on to a lead in addition to their lack of finishing cost them two points. Of course, that is very easy to say in hindsight.
In only having a one goal advantage, Saints are caught in two minds. If they go forward, considering all the squandered chances, they may get caught on the break by a more attack minded Blackburn looking for the equaliser. On the other hand, by sitting back Saints invite pressure. This usually provides nightmares for Saints fans throughout the next week as our defence desperately hoof the ball clear.
Of course, unlike the Manchester United game, I think this is what Saints should have don, as Blackburn had posed precious little threat up front all afternoon.
So it's not as simple as handing out blame. Especially not to a side that worked their socks off yesterday. In the closing minutes, Saints were looking really tired in certain areas and Blackburn capitalised on the sloppiness that always brings.
I think that you have too look to our strikers, and attacking midfielders to provide a solution to this problem by converting a higher percentage of their chances. Far too many were wasted, giving Friedel comfortable saves.