Southampton 1-0 Cardiff

John is mobbed by delighted team-mates after his winner

Stern John's early strike proved enough for a Southampton win over Cardiff.

Striker John fired home with his left foot on 15 minutes after Inigo Idiakez had played a delightful ball between two Cardiff defenders.

Cardiff's dominance continued after the break, but Robbie Fowler and Stephen McPhail shot wide from good positions.

A frantic finish saw Saints' Jason Euell blasting over on 88 minutes with the goal gaping, and Peter Wittingham firing wide for Cardiff in injury time.

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Southampton manager George Burley:
"We did not play particularly well, and we never really looked comfortable.

"There were a few performances that were not great, but we defended well, and that is something we have not done all season. We have played a lot better and lost, but it is important to keep clean sheets.

"We are strong in all areas of the pitch, but the defence has been a real problem since the start of the season."

Cardiff manager Dave Jones:
"We have to keep clean sheets - it's as simple as that. We're always chasing the game.

"It's frustrating because we've totally dominated a game that we really should have gone on to win.

"We gave a bad goal away and then Southampton defended for their lives. I just hope we could get our noses in front for once."

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Southampton: Davis, Ostlund (Skacel 7), Bennett, Ifil, Dailly, Dyer, Viafara, Safri, Idiakez (Euell 75), John, Saganowski (Wright-Phillips 66).
Subs Not Used: Rasiak, Surman.

Booked: Idiakez.

Goals: John 15.

Cardiff: Oakes, McNaughton (MacLean 85), Loovens, Johnson, Capaldi, Ledley (Sinclair 56), Rae, McPhail, Parry (Whittingham 76), Fowler, Hasselbaink.
Subs Not Used: Forde, Purse.

Booked: Hasselbaink, MacLean.

Att: 20,796.

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).