Though you only get three points whoever you beat, some victories are obviously far sweeter and more memorable than others.

Saints have enjoyed two such Premier League successes in 2015 already.

They followed up a New Year’s Day win against Arsenal with last Sunday’s 1-0 triumph at Old Trafford.

Both were results to savour.

It was only Saints’ fourth ever Premier League win against the Gunners, while it was their first league victory at Manchester United for almost 27 years.

Here, we take a look at the most eye-catching wins in Saints’ 38-season top flight career.

We look at the wins where the formbook was truly turned upside down, and the victories where Saints stunned some of the biggest clubs in the country at the time.

January 16 1971

Tottenham 1 Saints 3

Mick Channon scored twice as Saints stunned third placed Tottenham with only their second away league win in 13 attempts.

The hosts, who had gone ahead early on through ex-Saint Martin Chivers, had previously only lost four times in 23 matches.

Hugh Fisher was also on target for Saints, with his only goal in 42 top flight outings that season.

November 20 1971

Saints 2 Leeds 1

Ron Davies scored a last minute winner for a Saints side who started the day 16th – 11 places below eventual runners-up Leeds.

Mick Channon had earlier put Saints in front, with Johnny Giles levelling.

Saints lost their next game 8-0 at Everton.

April 4 1972

Saints 2 Manchester City 0

Ron Davies scored both goals as Saints defeated a City side who arrived in pole position to win the First Division title.

Though third in the table, City were only two points off top spot with a game in hand.

Saints were fourth bottom, just a point clear of the relegation zone.

City’s defeat was crucial, as it turned out – they finished fourth, just a point behind champions Derby and level on points with Leeds and Liverpool.

October 13 1973

Saints 1 Liverpool 0

An early Mick Channon spot-kick gave Saints victory over the defending league champions.

The Reds turned up on the south coast in fifth place, with Saints down in 14th after just three wins from their opening ten games.

February 17, 1979

Saints 3 Everton 0

The Toffees had topped the First Division table a week earlier, only to be knocked off it after neighbours Liverpool won in midweek.

Gordon Lee’s men had only lost two out of 25 top flight games when they turned up at a snow-covered Dell.

In contrast, 16th placed Saints had won just six out of 24 games in their first season back rubbing shoulders with the elite.

As it turned out, this was the only First Division game to survive the arctic weather that swept the country.

David Peach put Saints ahead just before half-time, with Graham Baker and Phil Boyer netting in the second half.

September 1, 1979

Saints 3 Liverpool 2

Saints claimed their first win of the season, at the fourth attempt, while inflicting reigning champions Liverpool’s first loss of the new campaign.

Saints led at the interval thanks to a goal from Trevor Hebberd.

Craig Johnston levelled, but Saints moved into a 3-1 lead thanks to goals from Phil Boyer and Charlie George.

This was against a defence which had only conceded 16 goals in 42 top flight games the previous season.

Colin Irwin set up a nervous finale, but Saints held on for their first win against Liverpool for six years.

November 10, 1979

Saints 4 Nottingham Forest 1

Lawrie McMenemy’s 14th-placed Saint thrashed second-placed European Cup holders Forest at The Dell.

Nottingham-born striker Phil Boyer netted twice after Dave Watson and Mick Channon had put Saints into a 2-0 half-time lead.

Garry Birtles reduced the arrears before Boyer struck twice to inflict Forest’s heaviest defeat since returning to the top flight in the summer of 1977.

November 11, 1980

Saints 3 Arsenal 1

The Gunners ran out at The Dell fourth in the top flight, just a point off second spot, with Saints down in 15th and four points off the relegation zone.

Lawrie McMenemy’s men trailed at half-time, current Portchester boss Graham Rix scoring, and were still losing after 63 minutes.

Steve Moran’s leveller, though, kickstarted Saints into action and further goals came from Dave Watson and Nick Holmes.

Arsenal finished third, only suffering eight defeats in 42 games.

This article appeared as part of a ten-page nostalgia special covering Saints' best top flight wins over football's biggest names. For the best Saints nostalgia don't miss the Sports Pink every weekend.