SAINTS boss Keiron Cunningham praised the commitment and effort of his injury-hit squad after watching them battle Wigan at a packed-out DW Stadium.

The team had to overcome the loss of skipper Jon Wilkin during the team's last training session before the game, adding to the already numerous key absences.

But there was no sign of the towel coming in from the Saints.

Cunningham was full of oride when he told the post match press conference: "I thought it was a brilliant effort.

"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."

Saints were in the wars again, losing big Joe Greenwood with a lower leg injury and seeing Paul Wellens depart early in the second half. 

"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 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 first half well but he looked bad in the dressing room at half time.

"Joe has gone straight to hospital with a lower leg injury," Cunningham said.

He singled out some fine individual efforts, with Louie McCarthy- Scarsbrook's versatility again probing useful.

Cunningham added: "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.

"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."