IAIN DOWIE has fired the first shot ahead of Saturday's ultra-crucial six-pointer at St Mary's by insisting his Crystal Palace side signed Fitz Hall on the cheap.

The 23-year-old Londoner's £1.5m sale provoked an outcry among Saints fans back in the summer. And, even though Saints made a healthy profit on the player, Dowie insists the centre half is now worth over £5m!

Hall was a bargain £250,000 signing by ex-Saints boss Gordon Strachan in July 2003 when he was picked up from cash-strapped Oldham, then managed by ex-Dell striker Iain Dowie.

This time last year, Hall hadn't even made his Saints debut - that came in the 1-0 League Cup loss at Bolton in December 2003.

The accomplished centre-half went on to make seven Premiership starts plus four as a sub before the chance of teaming up again with Dowie at newly-promoted Palace in July proved too much.

Hall believes he was destined to play a bit-part role at St Mary's but has matured into one of Palace's top performers this season.

And Dowie insists that, even though Saints made a £1.25m profit on the player, his club have got the better end of the deal.

"If Michael Dawson at Nottingham Forest is worth £5m, then what is Fitz Hall worth?" he asked.

"He has got nothing to prove to me and I don't think he's got anything to prove to Southampton."

Hall said: "I was not really given a chance at Saints. I was put in for some big games and felt I did well but, whenever the senior defenders were available again, they came back in. That was one of the reasons why I chose to come to Palace."

Ironically, had Hall stayed at Saints, the chances are he would have been a regular this season due to the long-term injury worries suffered by Michael Svensson.

Though Saints banked a nice profit for Hall, they spent £1m of it on Andreas Jacobbson from Brondby.

Hall began the season for Palace in the centre of midfield but has really impressed fans and journalists alike since moving into his more usual central defensive position he occupied for Saints.

Hall recently scored his first Premiership goal in the 3-0 home win over West Brom and, when he missed the 3-2 loss at Anfield through an ankle injury, his absence was keenly felt.

Hall returned to the side for last weekend's 2-0 home loss to Newcastle but was not fully fit.

He is expected to start, though, at St Mary's in Dowie's usual 4-5-1 system he deploys home or away with Andy Johnson as the lone striker.