SAINTS boss Paul Wellens believes his injury-hit side rediscovered their identity in last night’s derby defeat by Wigan after disappointing back-to-back defeats against Salford and Castleford.

Stung by the reaction to last week’s disappointing home loss, Wellens shook up the side with teenage full-back Harry Robertson making his debut, and scrum half Lewis Dodd dropped.

Jack Welsby partnered Jonny Lomax in the halves – and there appeared to be a huge improvement.

Saints took the lead with a well-executed Welsby try after Robertson had backed up Curtis Sironen to dart upfield.

Although Wigan replied with a Jake Wardle try to make it 6-6 at the interval, Saints again edged in front with a Waqa Blake try midway through the second half.

Alas, from the restart – and for the second time in the game - Wigan gang-tackled a Saints ball-carrier into touch.

And from there they levelled after a spell of pressure on the line with Adam Keighran crossing and a few minutes later Zack Eckersley nipped in for what would be the winner.

."Obviously the lads are disappointed that they've lost a game, but in terms of the mental attitude and how you approach big games, I thought we got everything we needed from the group today," said Wellens.

"A lot of us have been questioned in recent weeks and I think that was the perfect answer tonight in terms of how committed these players are to make this club successful.

"These games are always settled by fine margins but nobody who saw that tonight will question anybody's effort and that should be a blueprint for moving forward. We reconnected with who we are tonight."