Saints just fell short with a storming second half fight back as Espanyol spoiled the party in the first ever game at the Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium.

The Spanish side turned on the style as they raced into an electrifying 4-0 lead by half-time, with goals by Martin Posse, David Aganzo, Oscar Garcia and Antonio Soldevilla.

Southampton were booed off at the interval following a flat display as the occasion got the better of them. But they showed far more fire after the break.

The game turned with a hat-trick of substitutions on 54 minutes and all three combined to set up Kevin Davies for the honour of being the first Saints player to score at the new ground barely a minute later.

Uwe Rosler added the second with a flying header on 61 minutes and then nodded his second 16 minutes from time despite a thumping challenge from the keeper in the process.

Rosler almost got a hat-trick in injury time but just failed to turn in a cross by Stuart Ripley, who then volleyed over the bar moments later.

The final half-hour was broken up by a series of substitutions, but Saints at least gave their fans something to cheer after being outclassed in a one-sided first half.

The Spanish side were a yard sharper in every department, scoring four quality goals and slicing Saints open almost at will in front of England boss Sven Goran Eriksson.

FOR FULL MATCH REPORT AND PICTURES SEE TONIGHT'S PINK AND MONDAY'S SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO