THE title of Sir Clive Woodward's autobiography is simply Winning! The exclamation mark is there for a reason.

Winning! is when everything - collective and indivdual performances, preparation, result - all fall into place. Winning (no exclamation mark) is getting the right outcome.

Southampton simply won last night but, in so doing, enjoyed that feeling for the third consecutive time.

It is something they have not achieved since December 2003 when they entered the festive period in the dizzy heights of fourth in the Premiership.

It has been a steady decline ever since and, while no one is popping open the champagne after beating Southend, Saints are now showing some positive signs.

The improvement in results has stemmed from something very simple - the defence. Four clean sheets in five matches tells its own story.

The key man in this regard has been free transfer Tomasz Hajto, who was deservedly handed the captain's armband last night with Nigel Quashie rested.

The Pole speaks little English but is clearly a leader who inspires with actions and not words.

England under-19 international Matthew Mills made his full first-team debut alongside him in central defence and the duo looked extremely secure.

Indeed, it was a night that provided a glimpse of the future as Redknapp left out seven players (Quashie, Antti Niemi, Darren Powell, Djemal Belmadi, Matt Oakley, Ricardo Fuller and Claus Lundekvam) who had started the 1-0 win over Norwich on Saturday.

Full debuts went to 17-year-old Nathan Dyer and Mills, while Dexter Blackstock started up front alongside Kenwyne Jones with Martin Cranie and Yoann Folly also playing in an extremely youthful team.

They struggled, however, to find any early rhythm and Southend enjoyed good spells of early possession without every really threatening.

Although Saints were seeing less of the ball, they always looked more likely to make their chances count.

Blackstock was the first to test Southend goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan with his low, left-footed drive and then Folly also forced a save.

There appeared to be little in a game lacking in real quality when Saints suddenly struck with what proved to be a fatal double blow.

Folly's right-wing corner was met by a strong header from Mills, which Flahavan could only parry. Blackstock reacted quickest to put Saints ahead.

Southend almost levelled moments later when Carl Pettefer's cross found Shaun Goater, who forced a good save from Paul Smith.

But an end-to-end finale to the first-half was completed when Dyer reacted quickest to squeeze the ball home after Flahavan had failed to gather David Prutton's stinging shot.

A feeling of inevitability lingered throughout the second half as Southend again found themselves enjoying periods of pressure without looking likely to score.

The closest they came was a powerful header from Spencer Prior, which Smith did well to tip over.

Southend gave a run out to Freddy Eastwood, who was a surprise inclusion on the substitutes' bench. The striker was expected to be banned after being red-carded against Huddersfield for a push, but Southend have appealed, meaning his suspension was yesterday put on hold.

Manager Steve Tilson, however, waited until the 63rd minute before introducing Eastwood and he had little impact.

Indeed, as Southend pushed forward, gaps appeared further back and Saints' victory was consolidated on 89 minutes when Rory Delap's 30-yard drive hit Ormerod and flew past Flahavan.

It concluded another very satisfactory 90 minutes work for Saints.

Following relegation from the Premiership, an August trip to the Essex coast was clearly a match they could have done without.

But the job was completed professionally and will bring added confidence to what had been a dented collective self-belief.

However, reading too much into this match - and indeed the wins against Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich - would be a mistake.

Saints still look like a team that could struggle for enough goals to amass the sort of points total that would mean automatic promotion.

Yet it is impossible to underestimate the value of a bit of winning momentum. The key now is to really capitalise on it.