IT is not only Kevin Phillips who has returned to goalscoring form in recent weeks.

Strike partner James Beattie is also back among the goals on a seemingly consistent basis.

Beattie's weekend header was his third goal in as many matches - all scored away from St Mary's.

Before that, he had not scored away from home since September.

Beattie, skipper for the past two games, has scored five goals in his last eight matches.

That's in stark contrast to the run of just three goals in 17 matches prior to that - all of which came against Pompey.

Beattie, top scorer last season with 24 league and cip goals, and Phillips scored in the opening match of the season at Leicester and instantly the St Mary's faithful were hailing them as a potential 'dream partnership'.

But the two did not score in the same match again until Paul Sturrock's first game in charge against Liverpool in mid-March.

Indeed, both Phillips (due initally to suspension) and Beattie (due initially to loss of form and tiredness) have spent time on the bench this season with Brett Ormerod playing alongside the other.

"Things are happening now with me and James," said Phillips after Saturday's success.

"It is extremely pleasing because we are working day in day out on things on the training pitch and it is working. James is high on confidence, so am I.

"Ask any manager and they will say having two centre-forwards high on confidence is a boost for their side."