ON the day Saints unveiled an attacker capable of producing the unexpected, it was another forward with a similar element of unpredictability to his game who stole the show against Stockport.

New-boy Jason Puncheon, who signed a little too late to make his debut on Saturday, was introduced to the fans before kick-off.

Saints boss Alan Pardew described his fifth January transfer window acquisition as a “maverick” footballer who he expects to bring some individual flair.

And he may well have wished for a long time during this game that Puncheon’s transfer had gone through a little sooner so he could have faced Gary Ablett’s side.

Pardew would no doubt have shared the fans’ frustrations as he watched his team struggle to break down the side propping up League One during the first-half and early part of the second.

Fortunately he had an ace up his sleeve in the form of substitute Papa Waigo, left, who was itching to get on and make an impression.

And how he did, once he entered the fray just after the hour.

He inspired Saints to their first league victory since Boxing Day and one which took them back into the top half of the League One.

The leggy loanee’s impact after replacing Lee Barnard up-front was instant. He won the corner that led to the all-important, if fortuitous, breakthrough goal, scored by Rickie Lambert, before adding the second himself – all within seven minutes of coming on.

And thanks to Waigo, whose arrival visibly lifted Saints, Pardew’s men finished the game looking like a completely different side to the one who seemed a little short of ideas going forward during the first hour.

Waigo, a player with the ability to delight and frustrate in equal measure, has been unable to earn a regular place in Pardew's starting XI since joining Saints on a season-long loan from Serie A side Fiorentina.

But, with Puncheon’s arrival further increasing Saints’ attacking options, and therefore competition for places, his half-hour cameo was a timely reminder of what he is capable of.

He would have given Pardew some food for thought as he juggles his squad during the busy coming weeks.

It also ensured Saints picked up three more points in their play-off pursuit, something that had stuttered slightly over the last month as their league form has seemingly suffered as a result of their cup engagements.

For a long time it looked like that was going to continue to be the case against a Stockport side who made Saints work hard for their win in a game that was more difficult than many probably imagined it would be.

Before drawing their last two league games, rock-bottom Stockport lost 12 on the trot.

Saints also possessed a striker in Rickie Lambert who had scored as many goals this season on his own as Stockport have managed as a whole in the league.

So Saints fans arrived at St Mary’s expecting to see their side secure a routine victory, something Pardew admitted in the build up to the game that he would have too if he was one of them.

That expectancy meant Saints found themselves in a situation where they had plenty to lose but not quite as much to gain.

Dropping points would have been a blow to Saints’ confidence and a potentially bigger blow to their play-off hopes.

Had the unthinkable happened and they lost, Saints would also have had to carry the unwanted tag of being the team Stockport ended their 100-day, 14-game wait for a league victory against.

Thankfully, that didn’t turn out to be the case.

While they offered little threat going forward, Stockport were certainly organised at the back, keeping their shape well and staying solid.

As a result Saints found opportunities hard to come by, especially during a forgettable first half.

They didn't help themselves though, giving the ball away carelessly on numerous occasions, often when in promising positions and much to the frustration of the expectant home crowd.

The visitors had the first effort on-target on 11 minutes, but Kelvin Davis was equal to David Poole’s close-range shot.

It wasn’t until the 25th minute that Owain Fon Williams was testeds, falling to his right to hold on to Morgan Schneiderlin’s 20- yard drive.

Saints failed to test Stockport’s shaky stopper, who was especially struggling with his kicking during the first half, with their next two efforts.

Lambert blasted a 20-yard freekick into the wall before Schneiderlin drove another longrange effort high, wide and not so handsome.

Saints’ best chance of the half fell to Barnard.

But he spurned a glorious opportunity to open his Saints account when he nodded Lambert’s flick on straight at Fon Williams from six yards out.

Paul Wotton smashed a piledriver straight at Fon Williams with Saints’ last attempt of the half. Saints had to, and thankfully did, improve in the second half.

Antonio, Lambert (twice), Barnard and Jose Fonte all tried and failed to break the deadlock before Waigo came on.

And the 62nd minute substitution proved to be an inspired one.

A minute after stepping onto the field Waigo tricked his way past James Vincent down the left but saw his attempted cross deflected behind for a corner.

Joseph Mills swung it over and Fon Williams could only punch the ball against Lambert and it looped off the striker and into the net.

As a result he became the first striker to reach the 20-goal mark in Football League games this season.

The goal lifted Saints and the crowd. They both should have been celebrating a second moments later but Waigo headed Lee Holmes’ pinpoint centre wastefully wide.

Waigo had another chance on 67 minutes,when he sprung the offside trap, but poked his shot straight at Fon Williams.

He made amends in the 69th minute though, chesting down Jon Otsemobor’s cross from the right and lifting the ball over Fon Williams from close range.

The game was won.

Ratings

KELVIN DAVIS 7

Couple of shaky moments early on when dealing with back passes but back to his usual reliable self after that.

JON OTSEMOBOR 7

Comfortable afternoon defensively and weighed in with assist for second goal.

DAN SEABORNE 8

Defends first, asks questions later. Did the basics well and complements Fonte.

JOSE FONTE 7

Very comfortable 90 minutes.

Marshalled defence well and nearly popped up with a goal in the second half.

JOSEPH MILLS 6

Did okay with his defending but one of the main culprits when it came to giving ball away.

MICHAIL ANTONIO 7

Always a threat with his pace and got into some good crossing positions. Just lacking consistent end product.

MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN 8

Improved as game went on and really stood out once game opened up in last half hour.

PAUL WOTTON 7

Typically solid, tough-tackling and wily presence in front of the back four.

LEE HOLMES 7

Provides good balance down left and had the better of his battle with full-back.

LEE BARNARD 6

Works tirelessly. Doesn’t know meaning of ‘lost cause.’ Just missing a little luck in front of goal.

RICKIE LAMBERT 6

Quiet game but still on the scoresheet, even if he knew little about the goal.

Subs

Papa Waigo (Barnard 62) 9
Unused: Bartosz Bialkowski, Dan Harding, Wayne Thomas, Chris Perry, Radhi Jaidi, Simon Gillett.