SAINTS chairman Eamonn McManus says nothing will be achieved within the club by “tub thumping and lashing out” but has vowed to identify and address “any and all weaknesses” after Sunday’s embarrassing home Challenge Cup exit.

McManus has used his notes in tomorrow’s programme to spell out that the club collectively – including himself, the staff and players – recognise that Sunday’s defeat was unacceptable.

And although Old Trafford remains the objective, they recognise that a huge improvement is needed in performances over the next five months.

Although Saints are currently within reach of the leading pack in fifth, their performances so far this year have been patchy and inconsistent with the runs of games punctuated by bad losses, particularly at home.

With Wembley dreams over for another year, the pressure is now on with a run of five tough matches and McManus accepts that redemption will only come with significant improvement throughout the rest of the Super League season.

Although many at the club have worked hard this decade to put the stadium, training facilities and academy system in place, the chairman recognises that Saints’ reputation and success ultimately hinges on the first team’s results and performances.

The supporters are used to and expect winning, entertaining rugby league and Sunday’s painful exit – made worse by the margin of defeat, by being at home and being broadcast live on television – was so far below expectations.

It was the first time Saints have lost a home Challenge Cup tie since the 1995 replay defeat by Wigan and their heaviest since Hull defeated a star-studded team featuring Jamie Lyon, Paul Sculthorpe, Darren Albert and Keiron Cunningham et al 34-8 in the 2005 semi-final.

Saints need to massively up their game and after some dreadful days and evenings at Langtree Park this term – Roosters, Wigan, Catalans and now Hull – they now have to reclaim their home base again.

That process starts tomorrow night at home to a Salford side that recorded a 44-10 triumph over the Saints in February.

With fixtures against an improving Huddersfield at Magic, followed by clashes with top four sides Hull, Warrington and Catalans there is no hiding place; nobody is going to be giving Saints a leg-up on the road to recovery.

But it will at least give Saints, currently closing in on full fitness apart from long-term casualty Tommy Makinson, an honest appraisal of where they are and an indication what needs to happen recruitment wise for next season.