CHRIS Lucketti was sporting a cracking black eye after his Saints debut against Bristol City - but also a broad smile.

The centre half, on loan from Sheffield United until the end of the season, was thrown straight into the side alongside Chris Perry who himself was only playing his second match for the club.

The pair formed a superb partnership in the heart of the Saints defence and were a massive part of why the team were such resounding 2-0 winners.

Lucketti, 35, took a kick in the face for his troubles which led to the black eye.

But he is just happy to be playing, and winning, again - his previous senior appearance before the weekend was at the end of last December.

He said: "It was a physical game against Dele Adebola and they have some physical players.

"You know you're in for a battle but it's part of the game and what I enjoy.

"I was really pleased with the team and how well they played. On another day we would have scored four or five goals."

Lucketti has played just six Championship games for Sheffield United this season and he added: "I'm delighted to be here.

"It took a lot to come here. I left my wife, who's just had an operation, and three kids to be here but the manager wanted me.

"I was getting fed up of sitting on my backside at Sheffield United so I'm delighted to be here and to be able to prove to people I can still play."

On the evidence of his first outing with Saints, you could forgive Lucketti for scratching his head with amazement when he sees where his new side are in the table.

S a i n t s a b s o l u t e l y blew away the C h a m p i o n - ship's top team, but it was to lift themselves out of the bottom three.

However, Lucektti knows with more performances like that relegation will be avoided.

"You look at the squad and you can't believe where they are," he said.

"They should be challenging for promotion but things happen and we find ourselves where we are.

"They proved to me they are more than capable of getting out of it, but we need to take it game by game.

"Everybody's happy, though. It's a massive three points."