Boro stun Saints

Southampton 0-1 Middlesbrough

Premiership action in pictures

Malcolm Christie's early strike ended Southampton's unbeaten start to the season and maintained Middlesbrough's record at St Mary's.

Boro have yet to be beaten in three Premiership visits to St Mary's since Southampton moved home.

Gordon Strachan's side huffed and puffed but failed to blow down a resolute Boro defence.

Boro took the game to Southampton in the early stages, and after Boudewijn Zenden and Danny Mills had tested out Paul Jones, Christie shocked the home crowd on 13 minutes.

George Boateng led a swift break out of defence as Southampton pressed and the ball was worked out to Christie on the right.

The ex-Derby frontman cut inside Graeme Le Saux to beat Paul Jones on his near post for his first Premiership goal of the season.

James Beattie sparked an instant response by firing narrowly wide from 25 yards, but Christie again threatened and Claus Lundekvam had to be alert to block a shot from the Boro striker.

Boro almost punished more uncertainty in the Southampton defence when Joseph-Desire Job threaded a ball through to Jonathan Greening who saw Jones beat away his shot.

Christie then blasted over as the loose ball fell to him 20 yards out.

KEY MOMENTS 13mins: Christie fires Boro ahead 43mins: Paul Telfer hits the post 63mins: Neil McCann hits the woodwork 90mins: Kevin Phillips is sent off

Southampton's final pass failed to deliver and when Michael Svensson obstructed Job, Zenden's free-kick had Jones scrambling across his goal.

Saints boss Gordon Strachan replaced Chris Marsden with Neil McCann on 38 minutes and the Scot immediately got in a header which was saved by Mark Schwarzer.

And as Southampton upped the tempo in search of an equalizer before half-time Paul Telfer struck the post with long-range volley.

I listened to the match and it sounded like we really deserved the victory - Christie and Zenden sounded like they had great games From Proud to be a Smoggy Have your say on 606

Southampton's strike force of James Beattie and Kevin Phillips suffered a frustrating afternoon as the home side continued to waste their territorial advantage.

Despite the absence of first choice central defenders Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu, Boro were able to cope with some poor crosses.

Saints boss Gordon Strachan gambled on 54 minutes when he replaced defender Jason Dodd with midfielder Anders Svensson.

Beattie at last got in a telling cross and McCann stole in at the far post to crack a volley against the outside of the post.

Boro were clinging on heroically and Phillips got in a sharp glancing header from a Telfer cross but Schwarzer was on hand to save.

Southampton's frustrating afternoon was complete when Phillips was sent off in the last minute for kicking out at Franck Queudrue.

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Southampton: Jones, Dodd (Anders Svensson 54), Lundekvam, Michael Svensson, Le Saux, Fernandes (Ormerod 76), Oakley, Telfer, Marsden (McCann 39), Beattie, Phillips.
Subs Not Used: Niemi, Higginbotham.

Sent Off: Phillips (90).

Booked: Michael Svensson, Marsden, Anders Svensson, Oakley.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Mills, Riggott, Cooper, Queudrue, Greening, Boateng, Doriva, Zenden, Job (Nemeth 75), Christie (Ricketts 86).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Davies, Juninho Paulista.

Booked: Mills, Cooper, Riggott.

Attendance: 30,772

Referee: B Knight (Kent).