Marek Saganowski's 54th second goal was enough to send the Blues to their fifth successive defeat. Only George O'Callaghan and Jon Walters troubled ex-Town keeper Kelvin Davis in the Southampton goal as the Blues failed to score for the sixth game in succession and their seventh match in a row away from home.
Jim Magilton lined-up his side in the 4-5-1 formation utilised against Watford last week. Owen Garvan and George O'Callaghan returned to the team with Jon Walters and Jaime Peters dropping to the bench. There was no place in the 16 for injury concern Billy Clarke, but the youngster trained alongside Spanish full-back Sito prior to kick-off.
As rain began to fall just before the start, former Blues Chris Makin and Jermaine Wright were booed by their old fans, while Kelvin Davis was booed by his current supporters.
No sooner had the game started than the Saints won a freekick down their right, Matt Richards having been adjudged to have fouled Djamel Belmadi. Gareth Bale sent the ball into the box and Saganowski flicked the ball on at the near post and into the net, with only 54 seconds on the clock.
Given Town's terrible record in front of goal of late there could have been no worse way for the game to start.
George O'Callaghan wasn't too far away from Town's first shot on goal in the second minute, but he failed to get a decent contact on Owen Garvan's through ball.
The Blues enjoyed periods of possession in the early stages, although the home side looked the more dangerous, neither side was creating too much in the way of opportunities. The next chance came in the 18th minute when Alex Bruce headed a Matt Richards corner over the bar, perhaps getting in the way of Alan Lee behind him.
Belmadi's 24th minute shot was easy for Price after the Saints had caught Town cold with a quickly taken freekick inside their own half.
Lewis Price prevented his side from going two goals behind in the 26th minute when David Wright lost the ball just beyond halfway and Kenwyne Jones was played through one-on-one with the Welsh keeper, who made a superb reaction save to his left.
For the Blues, O'Callaghan teed-up Roberts on the edge of the box but the former Accrington man's wild effort flew miles over the bar. Roberts almost redeemed himself soon after with a fine cross which Sylvain Legwinski headed narrowly wide.
On 39 a strong run by Dan Harding cutting in from the left ended with the full-back finding Alan Lee inside the area, the Irishman flicking the ball into the path of George O'Callaghan. The ex-Cork player's strike was well saved by Davis, Gary Roberts seizing on the loose ball but causing the linesman to raise his flag.
Town found themselves on one of their better attacks of the game as the half-time whistle went. Again a set-piece had seen Town fall behind, while at the other end the Blues had rarely threatened, despite having plenty of the ball.
The second half started with Belmadi getting his name in referee Ray Olivier's book for pulling back Matt Richards as Town broke. By now George O'Callaghan had joined Alan Lee in attack.
Lee headed a Roberts cross to Davis in the 52nd minute, prior to Kenwyne Jones hitting Lewis Price's right post after finding space inside the area. It was another lucky escape for the Blues.
Jones shot over from the edge of the Town box just after the hour mark as the Saints once again broke quickly, although Alan Lee appeared to have been fouled as he surrendered possession. On 68 Magilton made a double substitution, Jaime Peters replacing Matt Richards and Jon Walters taking over from George O'Callaghan alongside Alan Lee. Roberts moved to the left with Peters on the right.
Price made another fine save in the 70th minute, punching a corner to the edge of the area and then reacting quickly to save from Andrew Surman.
Town's best attempt on goal came a minute later, Dan Harding crossing from the left and Jon Walters stooping to glance a header goalwards at the near post, Kelvin Davis doing well to push it away.
Jhon Viafara shot over Lewis Price's goal after Alex Bruce had tamely surrendered possession on halfway. Shortly afterwards, the Town defender headed a Roberts corner wide at the far post.
Danny Haynes replaced Alan Lee with seven minutes remaining, but failed to make much of an impression. As injury time ran down, Gary Roberts was booked for a frustrated foul.
From the moment that Saganowski scored in the first minute, Town never looked like grabbing their first away three-point haul of 2007. Despite the odd spell of possession, the Blues were rarely in control of a game which the Saints would have won more comfortably but for a couple of poor finishes by Kenwyne Jones.
Kelvin Davis was forced to make only two saves as the Blues remain completely toothless up front. The continued failure to score, allied with the ever-present frailties at set-pieces and a drop to 17th in the table make a nervy spring fight against relegation look a more and more likely prospect.
Town: Price, Wright, Harding, De Vos, Bruce, Legwinski, Garvan, O'Callaghan (Walters 68), Richards (Peters 68), Roberts, Lee (Haynes 83). Unused: Supple, Casement, Att: 27,974.