Their losing run may have ended but the question marks over St Kilda won't go away after they scrapped to a 13-point win over the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Thursday night.

Regular grand finalists St Kilda still looked a shadow of their once mighty selves despite holding out the win-less Lions 13.11 (89) to 11.10 (76) in front of 22,520 fans.

The Saints reeled in a five-point deficit at the final change thanks largely to Adam Schneider (three goals) and Leigh Montagna (33 disposals).

For the luckless Lions, Mitch Clark grabbed four goals while Tom Rockliff had 29 disposals and both Jed Adcock and Jack Redden had 27 touches.

Critics may have predicted the Lions would fail to register a victory in their first three games without inspirational skipper Jonathan Brown.

But the Saints - who have contested three grand finals in two seasons - had most tipsters stumped after also arriving at the Gabba without a 2011 win to their name.

And that trend did not look like changing based on their disappointing early display against a dogged Lions.

St Kilda small forward Stephen Milne at least kicked two majors to help his side grab a 5.2 (32) to 4.4 (28) lead at the first break.

But just two goals overall were kicked in the second term as the Saints held on for a narrow halftime lead.

An error-riddled Saints looked largely dispirited until Jason Gram brought up their only major of the second quarter to snatch a 6.4 (40) to 5.6 (36) halftime lead.

But two quick goals by Clark ensured the Lions enjoyed a 9.9 (63) to 9.4 (58) buffer at three-quarter time.

History was on the Lions' side - the Saints had won only three of their 16 Gabba games, although they had claimed two of the last four.

But in the end, Lions coach Michael Voss will remember his 50th game at the helm for all the wrong reasons.

Technically the Lions (0-4) are on track to match the club's worst start to a season - they failed to win a game until round six in their wooden spoon year of 1998.

But it could be argued they got more out of the match than the Saints.

Saints coach Ross Lyon was relieved with the win but seemed more preoccupied by the soft state of the ground.

His complaints came just days after Gold Coast Suns captain Gary Ablett reportedly said the hard Brisbane surface had contributed to his injuries.

"The conditions really surprised me to be honest," Lyon said.

"It hasn't rained for two days but the sprinklers were on this morning to soften the pitch and you saw it ... that's disappointing.

"It wasn't just dew. When I rolled up tonight it was wet underfoot.

"Maybe it was an overreaction to the hardness and Ablett maybe.

"I think you have a right to expect it to be a bit better than that - that made it a slog."

Lions coach Michael Voss could still take heart from the efforts of his men who won contested possessions 127 to 114.

"When we had ascendancy in different parts of the game we just couldn't get that separation (on the scoreboard)," he said.

"And that's as much to do with the Saints' good play but we just couldn't maximise our opportunities when we dominated the ball.

"They had a small window and they went through it and that got them the result in the end.

"But I can't fault them (Lions). It really is a privilege to coach the group at the moment because of their attack at the contest.

"We have to be heartened by that in the end.

"It's just big errors that are costing us."

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