KEIRON Cunningham couldn’t fault the effort of his depleted charges as they went down 12-4 at Wigan.
Injury ravaged Saints battled at the DW Stadium but just couldn’t find the crucial score following a monumental effort.
“I thought it was a brilliant effort,” he said. “We came into the game after losing our in-form half back in Travis Burns last week and then we lost Jon Wilkin in Captain’s run. We had zero time to do anything as a team together – but I know there have been other teams in that situation.
“So to put yourself in the situation to be in the game for 70-odd minutes is good. We had a scratchy start but they didn’t really break our systems. They had the charge down and the kick that stuck in the mud at the end.
“Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook was outstanding. He must have played in three or four different positions. The half backs did well too; they took us around the pitch but their lack of experience hurt us at times. That is understandable though.
“Ideally, when you put a partnership together you need time – a pre-season – and this one was done in less than 24 hours. Jon Wilkin won’t be available Monday so we have a little time to work on this partnership. We can put right some of the wrongs.
“If a couple of decisions or a couple of bounces had gone our way then it could have been a different game. The forwards played double minutes and we got tried and made mistakes. With a couple more subs we would have rolled it more.
“It was a great derby wasn’t it – these occasions never seem to let us down.”
He continued: “It’s disappointing that we lost a couple of players again. It is like that every week now. I might have to put my boots on.
“The injury to Paul… that is a reoccurring thing we are aware of. He is a warrior; any other player wouldn’t have started the game. I had to trust his judgement and he didn’t want to let me or the team down. He got through the half well but he looked bad in the dressing room at half time.
“Joe on the other hand has gone straight to hospital with a lower leg injury.
“The boys will be ready Monday. Hull played yesterday and have a day on us, but we will be ready, They showed resilience today to hang on in there.”
Tickets for Monday’s game are on sale from the Ticket Office at Langtree Park, by calling 01744 455 052 or online here.
