The knives were put back in the sheaths and the gathering vultures dispersed almost in disappointment as Saints answered their critics with a gritty victory.

It was widely regarded almost as a formality that Dave Jones would become the first Premiership managerial casualty of the new Millennium after inevitable failure against in-form Everton, unbeaten in eight games.

In the wake of the 5-0 capitulation at Newcastle few expected them to win; some even called Radio Solent's vitriolic lunch-time phone-in to say they hoped their side would lose!

But, not for the first time, Saints defied the doubters to secure a vital victory with two quality long-range strikes from Jo Tessem and Matthew Oakley.

So, apart from having three key players back from injury, what's the difference between the spineless defeat at Newcastle and this dogged display

The answer is that last week was the manager's fault while this week it was the players who came up with the goods against Everton!

It still wasn't convincing but it was better. And the renewed determination at least answered a few of the doubts over whether the team are playing for the manager.

It sounds a trite clich that confidence is 90 per cent of the game but never was that better illustrated than in this Southampton performance which was nervous and consequently disjointed in the first half.

They repeatedly gave the ball away and so created little while finding themselves under pressure from an Everton side who sensed the home team were there for the taking.

But goals change games - sometimes seasons and even managerial careers.

And Jo Tessem's 47th-minute first goal for the club may well prove to be a pivotal moment in the campaign.

It was the kind of goal Saints are more used to conceding as David Unsworth saw his pass cut out by Kevin Davies who found Tessem in the inside right position.

The Norwegian, playing for the first time and shining in his preferred wide right role, ran forward and hit a low 22-yard drive which sneaked inside the near post of substitute goalkeeper Steve Simonsen.

He will feel he should have kept it out on his Premiership debut after replacing injured birthday boy Paul Gerrard on six minutes.

The goal gave the whole ground a lift and visibly raised the spirits of the players. And once the second went in nine minutes later, they were off and away.

It wasn't just the fact that it provided badly-needed breathing space but that it was an absolute cracker.

Oakley picked up a loose ball in midfield and set off on a run at goal. He rode two attempted tackles from John Collins and bundled his way past Richard Gough via a ricochet.

With no-one closing him down he stroked in a powerful low 20-yard drive which nestled in almost the same spot as the first goal.

How Saints have missed the emerging Oakley's creative passing and eye for a shot in the four games he has missed through injury!

He wasn't 100 per cent match-sharp but he added extra bite and snap to the midfield before fatigue caught up with him. And he was backed up strongly by a driving display by Chris Marsden showing the leadership which has been missing in recent weeks.

He refused to let the side's tempo flag. There was even one moment when he powered forward so strongly that he was in danger of over-lapping Luis Boa Morte who should have been sprinting on - a point which Marsden was quick to make to the winger!

Boa Morte again stuttered to get into the game even at 2-0 up and his overdue replacement by John Beresford gave the team better balance through the critical closing stages.

Paul Jones had to make two blinding fingertip saves to keep out an acrobatic Kevin Campbell header via the top of the bar and then a 20-yarder from John Collins.

The first was within a minute of Oakley scoring and who knows what short and even long-term damage a reply then might have caused

But with belief beginning to seep back Saints had the bit between their teeth and defended strongly, snuffing out the runs of Nick Barmby well away from danger and clamping down strongly on Campbell.

He was the major threat with Francis Jeffers as powder-puff as he was here last May. He should have set up a tense finale but sent a tame late free header into the arms of Paul Jones from a cross by Joe-Max Moore who should have had a go himself.

Crucially though the Southampton players showed they were once again prepared to throw bodies in the way of the ball as epitomised with two immaculately-timed and vital tackles in front of goal by Francis Benali and Dean Richards.

Young Garry Monk acquitted himself well in difficult circumstances in the unfamiliar role of right-back while stand-in skipper Benali led by example after being recalled on the left.

His passion and willingness to spill blood for the shirt was just what the side needed while Richards and Claus Lundekvam remained rock solid in the centre to provide a morale-boosting clean sheet.

The team still didn't quite click in attack and Marian Pahars will be annoyed not to have ended the goal drought which stretches back to the end of October.

He was denied by a fine save from Simonsen on 70 minutes and seconds later broke clear one-on-one. He tried to measure the shot and slipped the ball left-footed past the advancing keeper but wide of the right-hand post.

Everton, it must be said, were almost as poor as they were when they lost by the same score here on the final day of last season.

And in many ways Saints needed this win almost as much as they did when they completed their Great Escape.

With Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford both winning and the pressure and discontent mounting, Saints could not afford another defeat.

This display certainly wasn't the end product and there's a long way to go but there appears to be the willingness to go the distance.

At least they have ground out a starting point to give them renewed hope and something to build upon.

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