Town's stunning home win run was stretched to 12 games as goals from Jon Walters and Pablo Couñago helped the Blues to a 2-0 victory over Southampton. Jim Magilton's men started more slowly than has been the case at home of late, but gradually took control, scoring once in each half.

Walters was fine to take his place on the right of midfield, despite a slight groin problem, while Billy Clarke was recalled in place of the rested Gavin Williams. Otherwise it was the side which has started virtually all Town's games this season. Former Blue Kelvin Davis was in goal for George Burley's visitors, while Jermaine Wright was on the bench.

Neil Alexander was the first keeper to get involved in the game, rushing from his line to claim the ball at Stern John's feet as Southampton broke quickly.

On 12 Pablo Couñago shot narrowly over from 25 yards, however, Town had made a rather disjointed start, failing to take the game to the opposition as has usually been the case at home this season.

Bradley Wright-Phillips shot across the face of Alexander's goal as the Saints again broke quickly, prior to Owen Garvan shooting well wide from 30 yards.

Just before the half hour, Billy Clarke found Couñago on the right. The Spaniard cut in and crossed low, but a defender put the ball behind for a corner ahead of Alan Lee at the far post.

The Blues were starting to get on top after their slow start and in the 33rd minute they went in front in more than slightly fortuitous circumstances. Tommy Miller played a freekick on the edge of the area to Billy Clarke on his left, the Irishman hitting a shot which struck Jon Walters, wrong-footed Kelvin Davies and nestled in the corner of the net. It was Walters's eighth goal of the season and certainly his luckiest.

Four minutes later, Clarke hit a 25-yard effort which flew across the face of goal, narrowly beyond Alan Lee.

Just before the break, Jhon Viafara picked up a yellow card for directing a torrent of abuse at a linesman after a clash with Couñago. The Colombian had spent much of the half apparently trying to wind up Couñago with a series of niggly fouls and had deserved an earlier caution for a tackle on Billy Clarke where he appeared to catch the Irishman in the face with a high boot.

Town hadn't been at their best during the first half and scored their goal in fortunate circumstances, but by the end were starting to impose their superiority on George Burley's side.

The visitors were close to getting back on terms in the first minute of the second half when Phil Ifil crossed from the right and Wright-Phillips directed the ball goalwards, only for Alexander to react quickly to tip over.

Two minutes later, the Blues almost increased their lead. Tommy Miller, who took many of the set pieces, whipped in a corner from the right, the ball falling for Garvan. The Irish youngster hit a skimming right-foot effort which struck the top of the bar and went over. Garvan went close again a minute later, from another Miller corner, this time his shot deflected over the bar.

On 51 the Saints thought they were back on terms when Adam Hammill cleverly worked himself some space on the edge of the area before chipping the ball over Alexander but off the post.

Town should have been awarded a penalty two minutes later after Couñago's backheel sent Walters away on goal. Ifil initially got in ahead of the Town midfielder but Walters used his strength to regain possession and looked destined to get in a shot at goal when the on-loan Spurs man very evidently tripped him. The well-placed linesman flagged for a spotkick, but referee Grant Hegley waved play on, despite being in a position where he couldn't have seen the incident clearly.

Alexander saved Jason Euell's low 30-yarder on 54, before the game briefly boiled over after Viafara went to ground holding his face after what had appeared to be a relatively innocuous aerial challenge with Couñago. Several Southampton players remonstrated with the Spaniard and then referee Grant Hegley, Andrew Surman appearing to shove the official in the melee.

Eventually, referee Hegley restored order and spoke to Couñago and Jason Euell, who had led the remonstrations, but showed no cards.

Three minutes before the hour mark, Miller caught Euell in possession just outside the Southampton area. The midfielder fed Lee, who crossed low for Couñago, Davis doing well to dive to his left to save the Spaniard's shot. Soon after, Couñago got his head to a Miller corner, but failed to make a proper contact and the ball flew wide.

Billy Clarke was yellow-carded for a trip on Hammill in the 63rd minute, a foul which was nothing like as serious as several which the inconsistent Mr Hegley had deemed worthy only of a freekick.

A minute later, Couñago sent Walters away on the right. The earlier goalscorer tried to replicate his second in the Bristol City game, but shot across the face with Lee well-placed in the centre. Stern John headed wide of Alexander's goal on 65, before Owen Garvan was replaced by Gavin Williams.

The Welshman's first touch of the game led to the second goal. Billy Clarke had been fouled wide on the left by Viafara, who was by now very much on borrowed time. Williams whipped in the freekick and Couñago flicked the ball beyond Davis for his seventh of the season.

Clarke went over from 35 yards as the Blues dominated the next few minutes, briefly playing the fluid football of their best performances this season.

Wright cut in from the right in the 79th minute, but his shot deflected through to Davis. At the other end, Andrew Davies should have pulled a goal back for his side when given time and space to head a freekick goalwards, only to power the ball straight at Alexander.

Danny Haynes took over from Billy Clarke on the left of midfield on 84, the Irish youngster having put in another all-action display.

There was a scare for the Blues in the 85th minute when a cross from the right fell loose in the Town box, but Tommy Miller was on hand to clear the danger.

As the game moved into injury time, Sylvain Legwinski replaced Miller and Alexander and De Vos collided as they chased a ball played over the top into the area, the Canadian perhaps surprisingly coming off worse. Former Blue Jermaine Wright was roundly booed when he entered the fray in the closing stages.

Not Town's best performance of the season, but the Blues were certainly good enough to defeat a Southampton side which faded after a bright start. Walters's goal was more than a touch lucky, but the former Chester man was again amongst the star men, along with Pablo Couñago.

The Spaniard showed his usual array of clever turns and touches and took his goal well. Town will also feel that often over-lenient official Grant Hegley ought to have awarded a penalty when Walters was felled in the area, while Jhon Viafara will have counted himself very lucky to have received only one yellow card after committing a long string of fouls.

Town have the chance to take their home win record to 13 when Barnsley are at Portman Road on Saturday and would then be one victory away from the 14-game league record set by Sir Alf Ramsey's side in 1956/57 and within two wins of the all-competitions record of 15 matches achieved by Sir Bobby Robson's Town in 1980/81.

The win moves the Blues to fourth in the table. If only Town could win a few games away from home, automatic promotion might be a real possibility rather than just a hope.

Town: Alexander, Wright, Bruce, De Vos, Harding, Walters, Garvan (Williams 66), Miller (Legwinski 90), Clarke (Haynes 84), Lee, Couñago. Unused: Wilnis, Supple. Att: 19,791.

Photo: Action Images

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