GORDON STRACHAN saw Saints emerge victorious in a five-goal St Mary's thriller against Charlton and purred: "That game had it all."

But the Southampton manager could only watch helplessly from the stands as his side lost a two-goal lead only for Brett Ormerod to secure a first league victory for more than a month with his late winner.

"Lovely!" exclaimed Strachan after only his side's second win in nine Premiership matches.

"It was a cracking game of football. It could have swung either way, but we probably deserved it on our first-half performance alone.

"We've seen a lot in this game - great goals, great saves, chances, clearances.

"The game had everything, but it's probably no consolation for Alan (Curbishley), but it makes me feel better."

Strachan pinpointed the added verve and energy Saints seemed to inject into their play as the key factor.

The boss also admitted it had been their best attacking performance in a season that has been short of goals - they had failed to find the net, for example, in nine of their previous 14 league matches.

It was the first time Saints had netted three times in a league match since the 3-1 win at White Hart Lane back on September 20.

It was only the second time in nine league matches Saints had scored at least once.

"I thought our energy was good, our bravery was good and it was more like it," said Strachan after a win that maintained Saints' unbeaten home Premiership record against The Addicks.

"It was the first time we were a real threat going forward. That is what we have been searching for.

"We've been 9/10 defensive wise this season, but only 5/10 attacking wise. I think we were 9/10 attacking wise against Charlton.

"It comes from our energy first, there's no doubt about it. Our energy was better than it has been.

"We have been too sophisticated and we weren't quite ready for it.

"But if we are a good ordinary we're not bad - we have proved that in the last two games."

Ormerod, who continued alongside James Beattie up front in place of Kevin Phillips, scored twice after Michael Svensson had put Saints ahead.

Strachan felt the pace and buzz of the former Blackburn man, who was scoring his first league goals of a campaign spent primarily on the bench, was crucial.

"I think Brett could have scored four or five," he said.

"He is a different type of player from Kevin (Phillips), but he has given us something that we need at this minute in time.

"Brett gives us high energy - David Prutton also gave us that and it was his best game for us."

Yesterday also saw the first start for Marian Pahars since the corresponding fixture against Charlton on September 21 last year.

The Latvian - whose last first team appearance had been from the bench against Newcastle last November, brought extra thrust down the left and could be well pleased with his long-awaited return.

"Marian did well, but he got a wee bit tired and that's only to be expected," said Strachan.

"But he was a real threat in the first-half and that was good. He can run the ball for us 50 yards so it's nice to see him back."

The Saints boss was also full of praise for Charlton, who had won three and drawn one of the previous four away league games, and Scott Parker's spectacular double strike in front of England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

"They have scored two wonder goals," he said.

"There is a lot you can do coaching, but you canna do much about sheer brilliance and to come back from two pieces of brilliance and pick yourself up is great, because it's a stressful period when you have been two-up and gone back to two-all.

"We needed a third goal, they are a right good side, with some right good players. I wouldn't like to play them every week.

"Their first was a bit self-inflicted, but a piece of brilliance and the second was an absolute classic."

The result saw Saints jump back into the top-half of what is an incredibly congested Premiership table.

"There is four or five of them playing away and there is 15 of us with our own league," added Strachan.