A tired looking Town fell to their second successive home defeat and are now firmly back in the relegation battle. The Blues rarely looked at the races as Gordon Strachan's men won the midfield battle and took their chances.

The first half was a midfield dominated affair, with few chances to either side. In the 8th minute Marcus Bent won the ball from Wayne Bridge but could only win a corner after making a fine run down the right, and that was typical of the half as a whole.

Hermann Hreidarsson was in trouble with referee Mark Halsey in the 15th minute after he brought down Kevin Davies. It looked for a second as if Halsey would book the Icelander, but he decided to keep his card in his pocket.

A minute later Svensson was close to getting a flick on a Delap cross, but Marshall gathered at the second attempt.

On 20 Delap handled an Andy Marshall kick-out and Brett Ormerod attempted to score and was thwarted by Marshall and the referee who had blown his whistle.

Marshall was in action again on 24 as he saved a Matthew Oakley freekick from just outside the area. The kick had been given for an alleged foul on Kevin Davies who appeared to have dived. Not the only time on the afternoon that Town supporters felt that Halsey had been conned by a Saints player.

Town were having few chances, but in the 25th minute Marcus Stewart put in a low cross towards Marcus Bent after Matt Holland had won the ball on the edge of the area. Bent just failed to get his toe to the ball and it was cleared.

Martijn Reuser had had a quiet half, but on 32 he had a shot blocked after Town had enjoyed a prolonged period of possession without really finiding a good opening.

Southampton were playing the Blues in the same way as Gordon Strachan's previous club, Coventry did last year at Highfield Road. They closed the Blues down quickly and prevented Town getting any time on the ball.

The chance of the half fell just after the half hour. Titus Bramble had one of his mind-wandering moments and Brett Ormerod dispossessed him. The ball was played to Kevin Davies who hit a shot from the edge of the area which Andy Marshall saved but failed to hold on to. It seemed a formality that Delap, following up, would put Southampton ahead, but unbelieveably he hit the post. It was a lucky escape for Town, and Bramble who has already been blamed for several goals already this season.

On 39 Mark Venus headed a Marsden cross out for a corner with Davies lurking behind him. A minute or so later Venus once again beat Davies, this time on the ground.

Town's next opportunity came in the 40th minute from a Mark Venus corner. His cross caused a scramble from which Martijn Reuser eventually hit a well-struck shot across the face of goal and out for a Southampton throw-in.

As the half ended Marcus Bent headed a fine Finidi cross over the bar while Marsden hit a shot well over Andy Marshall's goal.

Town made no changes at the break while supporters were largely unimpressed at the scrappy first half.

The Saints had the best start to the half as a cross flashed across the Town box with no-one on hand to put it home.

Town's first attempt on goal of the new half came from Hermann Hreidarsson who headed a Finidi cross into Paul Jones's hands.

On 52 minutes Southampton went ahead, and not in uncontroversial circumstances. Town's players seemed to indicate that Kevin Davies had dived to win a freekick just outside the area to Andy Marshall's right. After prolongued wall adjustments (Mr Halsey was very keen on this), the ball was played inside to Delap who hit a shot which deflected off Marcus Stewart past Marshall to the keeper's right. It was an unfortunate goal to concede, although the Saints had looked the more likely side to get a goal.

Marcus Bent tried to get Town back on terms quickly. He made a run down the left and cut-in. He hit his shot too close to Jones who held the ball well.

George Burely decided to make a couple of changes on 56. Off came the anonymous Martijn Reuser and on Jamie Clapham. Chris Makin, visibly hobbling, was replaced by Jermaine Wright. Town went into a 5-3-2 with Hermann Hreidarsson at the centre of the defensive three and the subs as wing-backs.

Unfortunately the changes failed to improve matters immediately and Southampton went further ahead. A completely unmarked Brett Ormerod was given free reign to run in on Andy Marshall with Titus Bramble looking round wondering how he had lost him. Hermann Hreidarsson's despairing lunge came too late as the ex-Blackpool man scored his first Southampton goal.

Town skipper Matt Holland tried to hit back on 61, but his weak effort froma Jamie Clapham cross was easy for Jones in the Southampton goal.

Clapham had certainly added something to Town's attacking, especially with Jim Magilton finding him with a series of excellent passes.

Referee Halsey had not been a popular man with the Town crowd. On 66 he annoyed them more as Bent appeared to be fouled by Telfer. With a freekick looking a formality Halsey waved the Blues' protests away.

On 70 Bramble had a chance to make up for his earlier error. He got on the end of a Jermaine Wright freekick but his powerful header was straight against Telfer. A minute later Finidi George headed a Magilton cross over with Mark Venus possibly better placed behind him.

Holland spurned another good opportunity on 78 as the Blues finally started to look the part. Marcus Bent had made a good run on the right and had played a ball into Marcus Stewart. He teed the ball up for the Town skipper but his shot was mis-hit wide. George Burley decided to make a change up front and Pablo Couñago replaced Marcus Stewart.

On 81 Town were given a lifeline as they scored a strange goal. Another goalmouth scramble ended with Finidi George mis-hitting a shot goalwards through a crowded six-yard box. A defender appeared to stop it on the line and Paul Jones tried to seize upon it with Pablo Couñago attempting get his foot on the ball. With the chance seemingly gone, Town's players (Couñago aside) ran towards the centre circle arms raised. The linesman had given the goal and referee Halsey eventually noticed him and agreed. Whether the ball actually crossed the line or not is an arguable point. One that Paul Williams chose to disccus with the linesman, Marcus Bent and referee Halsey, receiving a yellow card for his trouble.

The crowd was now in full voice and Town were looking like they might get something from the game. Mark Halsey again annoyed the home supporters as he failed to notice Telfer handle a powerful Jamie Claphma shot on the edge of the area.

The Town comeback was short-lived, however, and on 87 Chris Marsden scored an excellent third goal. The bald midfielder picked up the ball on the left, went past a couple of defenders, then last man Hermann Hreidarsson and finally Andy Marshall before sliding the ball into the net. As for some of Liverpool's goals recently there was applause from the home fans as some started to make their way home.

The game fizzled out with Pablo failing to score when put one-on-one with Jones and Davies hammering well over when once again left totally unmarked inside the box.

A thoroughly poor performance from Town. From Marshall, whose kicking was very poor and who failed to catch or punch any of Southampton's corners, through to Bramble, often at his ponderous worst, through to a midfield which was again well beaten. Up front there were a few chances, but the strikers, and several of the midfielders, hardly made Jones work for his money.

Town now have some very tricky games, but need to put a few more points on the board to stop themselves really getting drawn into the mire at the bottom of the table.

Marshall, Makin (Wright 56), Hreidarsson, Bramble, Venus; George, Holland, Magilton, Reuser (Clapham 56); Stewart (Couñago 78), M Bent.

Photo: Action Images

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