Along with the fact that Cas and Widnes who they played/will play at the same stage as we played/will play London and Bradford would prior to the start of the season (i.e when the fixtures were allocated) have been considered a similar standard of opponent. It is just unlucky for Saints that their two "easier" ties allocated in November/December have turned out to be against two teams that have been performing much better than expected. Though it is a bit rich for fans of the Saints to be bemoaning their recent luck after the Hudds and Cas games.

if that is a sending off offence by lockers then it really is time to stop playing rugby league..never a sending off in the history of man.

If anything wellens should be the one cited for putting his forearm in micky macs face!

At least they've had the referees to tip the balance back their way.

How any Saints fan can talk as if things are somehow stacked against them at present is astonishing. In an honest world, they wouldn't even be in the next round of the Cup.

That depends on one’s religion surely?

You mean you didn't rest your players in the second half? Dam I knew I was using the wrong half of my brain...

No excuses? You could have fooled me, but you don’t!

7. Wellens - it's totally unfair that the laws of physics continue to prevent him from running faster than a mollusc. This is the most obvious and outrageous example of favouritism towards Wigan by the authorities.

We have been rubbish in some matches. We also felt grave concern about losses in personnel. But what we're seeing now is what we saw last season - the gradual re-establishment of a settled and effective team, and the re-application of match-winning tactics. And given what happened last season, that is plenty reason to be optimistic.

If you don't recognise that, then you don't know very much about the game.

Not me hombre, I never said we were rubbish, and I’m not trying to say we’re sh*t hot now either. All I say is Saints are a very good side and that we can get better; and about yesterday we were much the better side. End of!

On the flip side, I haven't half noticed the 'Armchair Brigade' chirping up online about how good this Saints side is and that "we're back". Proper 'this is our year stuff'.

Bit quiet this morning though. strange.

They have gotten some good results thus far, but it just shows how important the "Derby" is to our two clubs...

Agreed. The derby can never just be a 'two point game'. Likewise, while league results are of lesser importance under the current system, this one is a always seen as a measure of the teams' respective strength.

Good Friday has always been a very important fixture.

True, but it depends where you are at, I thought saints were running with a good deal of confidence and self belief, looks like it was all front from them, and it was paper thin. I really thought we would struggle against them, and through this season, but the management do seem to be able to get the team in the right frame of mind for crucial games. Saints fans can say all they like about being better on paper, but we certainly have a better squad at the moment. It's shaping up for a very interesting season..

I for one haven't tipped us to win anything and if I'm honest I don't expect us to. We are still lacking a few players in certain positions and rely on certain players to much.

I've said all year it will be Leeds v Wigan final at old Trafford.