DAVID PRUTTON denied James Beattie's possible departure was causing dressing room unrest and laughed off his on-field spat with Antti Niemi.

Saints opened their Premiership campaign with a dismal display in a 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

The 2004/05 curtain-raiser had been overshadowed by Villa's interest in signing Beattie.

And rumours of dressing room tension were hardly eased by Saints players arguing with each other during the game - culminating in Niemi shoving Prutton in the face after a row over the conceding of a corner.

But Prutton said: "I'm pleased he didn't hit me as he's a big lad and I'd have been flat out!

"We had a disagreement, it happens - we shook each other's hand afterwards and it's one of those things.

"When you're 2-0 down and everyone's trying their hardest to get something from the game then tempers are going to flare."

He added: "Morale is very good - it's a Southampton trademark.

"Everyone's behind the manager and it's very early days yet - it's a case of people being patient.

"Obviously the fans were frustrated as they've travelled a long way to watch a first half performance that wasn't up to scratch.

"But it's one game of the season - it's not as if we're 20 games down the line and playing like that."

Beattie has told Saints chairman Rupert Lowe he wants to leave - but any potential buyer needs to come up with an acceptable fee while Paul Sturrock tries to tie up a replacement.

Speaking of the Beattie saga, Prutton said: "It's not affected us at all, it's down to Beatts.

"It's up to him what he wants to do with his future. And whatever he does, good luck to him.

"We're not a one man team, we can play with or without him and we need to be able to deal with any eventuality.

"James does well for us and if he stays that will be wonderful because he's a well-liked member of the squad and a very good player.

"But it's up to us as individuals and as a team to look after the good of the team if people aren't there.

"If a player got injured what are you going to do then? It can't be up to one person and the squad needs to be good enough to take whatever is thrown at us.

"I don't know what's going to happen - you'll have to ask James. Everyone would love him to stay and it's not my place to say what's going on in his head."

Talking of the defeat, he added: "We were disappointed with ourselves in the first but we showed a lot more in the second half - it just took us a while to get going.

"I'm not sure why - it could be anything. First game of the season, sloppy, not very sharp - could be one of a million things.

"But it's down to us to put it right."