Sunderland edge out luckless Saints

Beattie's seventh minute goal was ruled offside

Southampton 0-1 Sunderland

Sunderland piled on the misery for Stuart Gray's Southampton with a magnificent goal from Kevin Kilbane.

The Republic of Ireland winger scored with an amazing overhead kick early in the second half to break the scrappy deadlock.

Though Southampton started off the better of the two sides, last-ditch defending from Sunderland and a solid performance from keeper Thomas Sorensen denied the Saints several opportunities.

The result means that Southampton have failed to score in their five games under caretaker manager Stuart Gray, and 491 minutes have passed since they last found the back of the net.

  Key moments

7 mins: Beattie delicately lobs the keeper, but is ruled offside

30 mins: Parhars is unable to steer round Sorensen's outstretched body

52 mins: Saints keeper Jones denies Quinn a chance on goal

54 mins: Kilbane scores for Sunderland with a fantastic bicycle kick

65 mins: Le Tissier comes on for Southampton

72 mins: Carteron blocks Beattie's shot off the line

It looked as though it was going to be a dour battle from the start with both sides suffering from problems upfront.

Sunderland's striking problems were more immediate as Reid was forced to use Don Hutchinson as a makeshift partner to Niall Quinn after prolific scorer Kevin Phillips was ruled out with a knee injury.

And it was the Saints who looked most effective in attack in the first half with James Beattie nearly putting the home side ahead in the seventh minute.

Beattie latched onto a through ball from Jo Tessem and neatly chipped Black Cats keeper Thomas Sorensen.

We were beaten by a freak goal

  Stuart Gray
Saints caretaker boss

But the Southampton sensation's effort was ruled offside by referee Alan Wiley and, after consulting with his assistant, awarded Sunderland a free-kick inside their own half.

Stunning winner

Later, the Saints again came close with Marian Parhars denied twice by some excellent keeping from Sorensen.

Most notably, the Latvian striker should have scored when put through by Matthew Oakley in the 30th minute, but could not dribble round an outstretched Sorensen.

Things started more brightly after the break when in the 52nd minute Quinn cut into Southampton's box.

f we can win our last two games Europe is still a possibility - we've just got to stay positive

  Peter Reid
Sunderland boss

But before the lanky striker could reel off a shot, goalkeeper Paul Jones charged out and dispossessed him.

Two minutes later though, the visitors got the goal they wanted.

Kilbane latched onto Gavin McCann's floating free-kick with a magnificent bicycle kick on the edge of the box.

Jones had no chance to save the surprise shot, which whizzed into the right-hand corner of the net.

The Black Cats were clearly spurred on by their goal, and looked more in control in the second half.

Southampton tried to shake things up 65 minutes in with the introduction of Saints legend Matt Le Tissier.

The home side nearly pulled one back when Beattie's drive was stopped on the line by Patrice Carteron's leg seven minutes later.

Southampton continued to pepper the Sunderland goal with chances, but Peter Reid's determined side held on for a valuable 1-0 win.

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Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Lundekvam, Richards, Bridge, El Khalej, Oakley, Kachloul, Tessem, Beattie, Pahars.
Subs: Moss, Le Tissier, Rosler, Davies, Draper.

Sunderland: Sorensen, Carteron, Craddock, Thome, Gray, Schwarz, Hutchison, McCann, Arca, Kilbane, Quinn.
Subs: Macho, Varga, Williams, Butler, Kyle.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood)