Two goals from Alan Lee gave Town an impressive and well deserved win at St Mary's Stadium and a fourth away victory of the season.

The Republic of Ireland international latched on to a pass from Owen Garvan on four minutes and showed great composure to beat Paul Smith.

Lee wrapped up the points and rounded off a terrific individual performance with a superb finish on 90 minutes, taking the ball 30 yards out and then bursting past the defence before unleashing a shot into the far corner of the net from 18 yards.

Jim Magilton returned to the starting line-up against one of his former clubs, Ian Westlake making way from the team that held Sheffield United.

Fabian Wilnis was in the right place to clear an early threat from Saints before Town opened the scoring, Lee showing a neat touch to beat Smith after Garvan had sent him clear with an excellent pass.

Richard Naylor became the first of three bookings for Blues in the opening half, losing possession then late with his challenge.

Lee followed on 16 minutes, referee Steve Tanner showing him a yellow card for the striker's protests with the Irish international clearly angry that he wasn't awarded a penalty following a challenge by Darren Powell in the box.

Town were forced into a change midway through the half when Gavin Williams sustained head and knee injuries in quick succession, Matt Richards replacing the Welshman.

Naylor wasted a great chance to extend Blues' lead when he headed over from Magilton's corner from just six yards out, Bam Bam then in the action at the other end with a good challenge on Marian Pahars.

Danny Higginbotham headed Darren Currie's teasing cross behind for a corner, while at the other end Dexter Blackstock dragged his shot well wide as both teams struggled to create any real clear cut chances.

Alan Lee - impressive at St Mary's

Good work by the impressive Lee again saw him leave Claus Lundekvam in his wake but his testing cross was hurried away from danger by Darren Kenton at the far post.

Jimmy Juan picked up his fifth yellow card of the season - which will see him miss the Leeds game at the end of the month - after bringing down Blackstock on the edge of the box. Higginbotham's free-kick just going wide of the far post with Shane Supple comfortable no save was needed.

The young Town 'keeper did have to be alert on the stroke of half-time though, saving at the feet of Pahars although the Southampton striker was in an offside position.

Number one for Alan

Supple was in action again early in the second-half, comfortably saving from Pahars before Town exerted a spell of pressure on the Saints' goal, Jason De Vos going close twice with headers from corners.

Lee again caused problems in the Saints' defence, outjumping 'keeper Smith from a Scott Barron cross, the ball going wide with Barron then caught by a late tackle from Quashie which earned the Southampton skipper a yellow card.

As the game entered the last 20 minutes, Town were inches away from a second goal. Lee's header cannoning away to safety via Smith's shins.

Supple held firm to keep out a Matt Oakley strike from distance then De Vos cleared from Pahars as Southampton tried to breach the Blues' defence, Naylor heading clear from David Prutton's cross.

Number two for Alan

De Vos became the fourth Town player to be booked in the closing stages before Lee struck on 90 minutes, beating Smith with an angled shot into the far corner.

The former Cardiff striker almost completed his hat-trick seconds from the end, Smith palming his header away from point blank range with most of the Saints' fans already out of the stadium by then.

Town: Supple, Wilnis, De Vos, Naylor, Barron, Juan, Garvan, Magilton (Westlake 62), Williams (Richards 22), Currie, Lee. Subs not used: Richards, Price, Haynes, Sito. Booked: Naylor, Lee, Juan, De Vos.