SOUTHAMPTON'S early season form turned full circle last night as they netted their first win of the Premiership campaign.

The great irony in the victory was that, having played well for four games and come away with precious little, last night they deserved precious little and came away with a win.

Everton, although ravaged by injuries, played some good football and at times tore Saints apart.

They created a whole host of fantastic chances but, with a top performance from Paul Jones and some quite appalling finishing, somehow contrived to lose.

Even Saints boss Gordon Strachan admitted: "Everton deserved to win.

"Our players are saying that we deserved that after the luck we have had recently but I don't believe it's about luck, ability is what will see you through.

"I haven't slammed or blasted the players, we just had a quiet talk and I told them it is my job to make them better, but that performance has taken us back a couple of weeks."

The only goal of the game came on 71 minutes when substitute Marian Pahars, whose presence on the field lifted Saints, was put clean through on goal.

As he raced into the penalty area he came into contact with Everton centre-half David Weir and referee Steve Bennett pointed to the spot.

There was much debate over the decision as Weir claimed Pahars went down a touch too easily, but the Latvian was unfazed and slotted the penalty into the bottom corner of the net.

It was left to Everton manager David Moyes to echo exactly the thoughts Saints had before this match.

"If we keep playing the way we are, then we will be OK," he said.

"We played well and should have won.

"I have seen the penalty and I would be surprised if anybody who saw it would agree with the decision."

Whether it was or wasn't a penalty, Everton can have no-one but themselves to blame for this defeat.

Their passing was crisp and incisive, their midfield was strong, Thomas Gravesen in particular was always a threat.

They fought away, opened up Saints, created chances but then...it all went wrong.

Chief chance misser was Thomas Radzinski who had no less than three one-on-ones and two more decent openings, but failed to score.

But credit must go to Jones who was big, powerful and produced an impressive array of shot stopping.

In particular, his reactions in keeping out a deflected long-range drive from Gravesen in the second-half were simply awesome.

Everton's first chance came and went on just four minutes when Weir found himself with time and space from a corner, but he started as the Toffees went on by heading wide when he should have at least hit the target.

On 21 minutes Radzinski produced his miss of the day. Strike partner Kevin Campbell played him in and Radzinski jinked beautifully to turn and get in on goal.

But with Jones committed he decided the best course of action was to kick the ball as hard as he could - and from eight yards out it flew over the bar.

He was at it again in the 53rd minute when he broke the offside trap, but Jones saved from a narrow angle.

Radzinski completed his hat-trick of disasters in the 63rd minute when Saints gave the ball away and he ran through on goal. Jones did well to save from him and Campbell could only put the follow-up into the side netting.

There were numerous other half-chances and a host of good last-ditch tackles from the Saints defence, but they still held firm.

Claus Lundekvam looked strong on his return to the team from a hamstring injury and appeared to suffer no further damage - a massive relief to Saints ahead of Michael Svensson's suspension for Saturday's trip to West Brom.

Chris Marsden was again strong in the middle while Fabrice Fernandes provided an occasional goal threat.

Rory Delap worked hard and produced a couple of long-range shots, as did Wayne Bridge whose 20-yard first-half free-kick sailed narrowly over.

It was also a Bridge cross which allowed Brett Ormerod to produce a display of acrobatics with an overhead kick which flew wide.

James Beattie battled hard up front but the real zest and drive came into Saints when Pahars was introduced on 56 minutes along with Andrei Kanchelskis, who found it tough going.

It was an eventful night with Gordon Strachan being sent off from the touchline in the first-half, but it ended with just the result Saints needed.