SAINTS coach Paul Wellens highlighted his side’s impatience and some of the over-ambitious passes they pushed as key factors in their defeat in Perpignan.

Saints let slip a 12-0 lead to concede 24 unanswered points to succumb to their fifth loss of the Super League campaign.

Wellens pointed to some of the “reckless” aspects of Saints’ attack that simply ended up relieving pressure on the Catalans Dragons and piling it on themselves.

Wellens said: “First of all, we have to give Catalan credit, I thought they came and played with real energy and effort and intensity about their game.

“But at the same time, what I was disappointed with was I thought we were massive contributors to our own downfall. Particularly around the way we attacked.

“We came with a plan that we wanted to have a little bit of ball movement but I thought as the game went on we became a little bit reckless, started to throw passes that were almost ‘Hail Marys’, started to chance opportunities that were just weren't there.”

Saints lacked their trademark control of the game – and unusually, maybe spurred by the way they opened up Warrington last time out, sought some short cuts on the edges instead of doing the basics.

“We tried to do things that were very out of character and it was a frustrating night all in all.

“After 20 minutes I think we had two opportunities and scored on both attempts.

“So we were leading the game 12-nil having done a lot of defending and I was quite satisfied at that point, but obviously before half time we allowed Catalan back into the game, which was frustrating.

“And then just from that moment on, we just didn't deal well enough with the game as a whole.

“I think we have to be prepared to be a bit more patient.

“I think when things aren't going our way and we are under the cosh a little bit, we need to deal with that a little bit better and that's about accepting the fact that you can't always play your way out of trouble.

“Sometimes you have to take the tough carries, kick long and get on your chase and back your defence - all the things that have made this team really successful in recent times.

“So I suppose it's a little bit of get back to basics in that respect.

“Whilst at the same time not putting the ball away because we’ve got a lot of skilful players in the team who, when they play together and we are working together as a as a cohesive unit, we look very threatening,” he said.

Wellens said at this moment, fitness wise, everyone come through without any injury concerns.