Southampton 1-2 Birmingham

Kevin Phillips enhanced his super-sub reputation for Birmingham by condemning former club Southampton to defeat.

Phillips came off the bench to notch the winner for the second successive match, poking home after Marcus Bent's header hit the bar.

Southampton took a first-half lead when Chris Perry rose unmarked to head home from Lee Holmes' corner.

Seconds after Stern John had almost doubled Saints lead, Garry O'Connor found space to fire in an equaliser.

Interview: Southampton defender Chris Perry

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Southampton boss Jan Poortvliet:
"The goals we conceded were not necessary and they were quite scrappy.

"We have to continue playing the good football that we have been playing and then I am sure the results will then come for us.

"I think the players were tired after playing three games in one week and I had to take off Stern John after an hour because his legs had gone after he hadn't played much in pre-season."

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish:
"I thought Southampton were the better side in the first half but we were much the better side in the second.

"Southampton deserved to go into the break 1-0 up but I am pleased with our performance in the second half.

"We created a lot of chances and I felt we fully deserved our victory and all three points and I am really pleased with the way we performed."

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Southampton: Davis, James, Svensson, Perry, Surman, Gillett, Schneiderlin, Lallana, McGoldrick, Holmes, John (Thomson 69).
Subs Not Used: Bialkowski, Wotton, Lancashire, Mills.

Goals: Perry 43.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Parnaby, Ridgewell, Martin Taylor, Murphy, Larsson, Nafti (Jerome 37), Carsley, O'Connor (Bent 66), Owusu-Abeyie (Phillips 76), McFadden.
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Kelly.

Goals: O'Connor 49, Phillips 77.

Att: 18,925

Referee: Clive Penton (Sussex).

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