Blast From The Past: Southampton

Blues twice came from behind, and thanks to yet another majestic performance from the irresistable Christophe Dugarry, went on to gain all 3 points, and make it 6 wins out of the last 8 played.

Steve Bruce opted to select the same side that romped to victory against Charlton Athletic at The Valley just 48 hours previous, whilst Southampton dropped the in-form Brett Ormerod and moved Anders Svensson into a more attacking role alongside the Premiership's leading scorer James Beattie.

Blues started the game as they had finished on saturday, by dominating against their opponents. Southampton certainly looked a great deal tighter at the back than Charlton had, but they still struggled against a Blues side playing with great confidence. Paul Jones was forced into an excellent save to deny Bryan Hughes, whilst Dugarry also twice went close, and even the likes of Jeff Kenna and Jamie Clapham hit scuffed shots that forced Jones into saves.

On 25 minutes, however, Southampton took an undeserved lead. Beattie flicked the ball on, and Anders Svensson nipped in behind the Blues defence to finish well past Ian Bennett from a tight angle. This knocked Blues for a while, and Beattie himself went close with a header just minutes later, as Blues struggled to get back into the game. Towards the end of the half though, the home side had regained some initiative, and had a couple of half decen penalty shouts waved away by referee Steve Bennett. Southampton went into the interval 1-0 up, and following a half of almost all one-way traffic, it was difficult to comprehend how.

The second half, it has to be said, was probably more of an even contest. Ormerod came on for Rory Delap, and posed Blues a problem with his pace and willing running up front. Blues themselves brought Stan Lazaridis on for Stephen Clemence 10 minutes into the half, and the Australian winger began to give Paul Telfer a torrid time down the Blues left.

On 74 minutes, Blues were deservedly level through Dugarry. The Frenchman had initially tried to hit a quick free-kick, but play was called back by the referee. At the free-kick, some 25 yards from goal, Lazaridis looked a better bet to strike the ball, but Dugarry curled a superb effort around the wall and into the back of the net despite the best efforts of Jones. This sparked something of a goal rush of four strikes in 9 minutes.

Southampton went back in front almost immediately. Blues failed dismally to clear a corner, and as the ball was hit forward, Michael Svensson flicked it goalwards, over the static home defence, for Ormerod to hit a sweet strike past Bennett into the roof of the net. At this point, having just equalised, it would have been easy for Blues heads to drop. They didn't though.

Another two minutes later, Blues were level again. Horsfield was put through down the inside right channel (there was a question as to whether he was onside or not) and he appeared to have made a mess of the opportunity, as his touch let him down, and defenders subsequently surrounded him. However, the striker kept his cool, looked up and say Hughes moving into the area and clipped up a ball for the midfielder to expertly volley home for his second goal in three games.

Anyone who thought that was the end of the action was sadly mistaken. Three minutes later, Blues went ahead for the first time. Substitute Stern John showed great touch and skill in getting past Danny Higginbotham and then to the byline. The Trinidad & Tobago international then hung up a delightful cross for Dugarry at the far post which the World Cup winner simply headed back across Jones to make it 3-2 and spark ecstatic scenes around St Andrews - not least at the Railway End which Dugarry disappeared into for a good few moments.

Southampton threw players forward in search of yet another goal in this enthralling contest, and blues thre Horsfield into defence and John into midfield in an effort to keep the lead, which they eventually did, the keep them 9 points clear of the drop zone, with just 3 games left to play. It would take a real disaster to see Blues relegated now. In fact, the win took Steve Bruce's side to 13th place, just 2 points behind out-of-form Charlton and a Middlesbrough team set to arrive at St Andrews in 5 days time. What price an 11th placed finish now?

This was a magnificent game, and one which would have been a great advert for the Premiership. It was non-stop, 100mph stuff. Southampton looked a very good side, as they are, and Blues had to be at their best to get anything out of the game. The fact is though, that Blues are now beginning to show that they can compete with the likes of Southampton and Charlton, and beat them. There's no doubt that these days, when it clicks, Blues are a not a bad side.

Finally, what can you say about Christophe Dugarry? There were those who doubted him signing for the club, but he is lightyears ahead of anyone I've ever seen pull on a Blues shirt (except for maybe Carl Robinson). Everyone at St Andrews will be desperate for him to stay at the club for next season, but with the way he is playing at the moment, it's not just the likes of Liverpool who will be looking at him at the moment, but teams all over Europe will be. He was mesmerising again today, and is now scoring goals to go with the performances he has been turning in since his arrival. I don't think it's an understatement to say that he's probably one of the top ten players in this country on current form - and he's certainly a damn sight better than Ray Houghton ever was. I wonder if the ex-Villa midfielder still thinks that he's a waste of time and not up for the fight?

PLAYER RATINGS:
Bennett - Couldn't really help the goals
Kenna - Decent enough
Clapham - Good distribution
Upson - Competent
Cunnningham - Not quite up to usual standards
Johnson - Worked tirelessly
Hughes - In and out of the game, but another quality finish
Savage - One of his quieter games
Clemence - A mixed bag, some excellent touches, some poor
Horsfield - A threat, but offside stupidly too often
Dugarry - What more can I say? I'm running out of adjectives

SUBS:
Lazaridis - Caused real problems
Devlin - Still not quite good enough
John - Did well on the whole, and superbly for the winner