Saints beat Sunderland

The ball loops of Sorensen to give Saints the lead

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Southampton 2-0 Sunderland

Southampton eased their relegation plight with their second successive win, this time over a lacklustre Sunderland side.

Not even the presence of £4m signing Claudio Reyna could wake the Black Cats from their slumber as an own goal from Jody Craddock and a brilliant strike from Marian Pahars gave the home side the points.

  Key monents

42 mins: Jody Craddock puts into his own net

67 mins:Marian Pahars doubles Southampton's lead

Craddock scored just three minutes before the break, his boot looping Chris Marsden's cross over a helpless Thomas Sorensen.

Then Pahars let fly from 18 yards out to double the lead midway through the second half, beating Sorensen at his near post.

Reyna had Sunderland's first chance of the game on 17 minutes, shooting into the side-netting from a promising position inside the penalty area.

Two minutes later, Paul Jones saved well from the American midfielder, who was playing just behind lone striker Kevin Phillips.

Phillips fluffed the visitors' best opportunity at the start of the second half, looping his header over from Kevin Kilbane's cross.

I usually try to protect my players - but I can't protect them today... we're a soft touch away from home and it's driving me crackers

Sunderland boss
Peter Reid

Bernt Haas then unleashed a ferocious goalbound volley six minutes later.

But the Swiss international's powerful shot hit Jason Dodd and deflected behind for a corner.

With time running out for Peter Reid's team, Saints brought on £1.75m signing Brett Omerod for his first taste of Premiership action.

Southampton now face both Manchester United and Liverpool twice - as well as Leeds, Chelsea and Tottenham - before mid-January.

Saints boss Gordon Strachan said: "A weak-minded person might think we've got a horrible run, but you have to play against these teams to get better.

"The players are relishing the matches and looking forward to them.

"The players have done their job today, by standing up to the physical and mental test of playing Sunderland.

"Our honesty and discipline were as good as theirs - and our good players were better than their good players."

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Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Bridge, Lundekvam, Williams, Telfer, Oakley, Svensson, Marsden, Beattie, Pahars. Subs: Bevan, Delap, Ormerod, El Khalej, Davies.

Sunderland: Sorensen, Haas, Gray, Craddock, Williams, McAteer, McCann, Thirlwell, Reyna, Kilbane, Phillips. Subs: Macho, Quinn, McCartney, Schwarz, Laslandes.

Referee: D Pugh (Bebington).