Line-up
With virtually a full strength squad to choose from, George Burley resisted the temptation to make too many changes from the 6-0 drubbing of Wolves. On a tight ground with a cut up pitch, Burley looked to add muscle and pace to his winning team with Viafara and Bale coming in for Ostlund and Skacel.
Surprisingly neither Baird or Lundekvam made even the bench, with Burley having half an eye on Monday's clash with the resurgent Sunderland. That meant Pele and Makin kept their places, albeit with a switch from left to right back for the solid, if unspectatular Makin.
The real success story at the back was Powell who seems ideally suited to a physical battle against the kind of direct football that Saints have struggled against all season. He was immense in the air and has rightfully earned himself a place in the first choice eleven.
In midfield Guthrie again showed what an excellent prospect he is with a high energy performance, full of controlled passing to keep Saints ticking over in midfield. On a difficult pitch it was understandable that the out of position Viafara and the cultured Surman struggled to play flowing football on the flanks.
Up front Best kept his place alongside the revelation that is Saganowski who scored yet again with a high quality volley after a flick-on from his hard-working strike partner.
With his goal record away from home Rasiak can feel hard done by only to make a substitute appearance, but he is rapidly becoming eclipsed by his Polish compatriot and was understandably a little selfish in trying to score.
Bialkowski
Makin, Powell, Pele, Bale
Viafara, Guthrie, Wright, Surman (Belmadi, 72)
Saganowski (Wright-Phillips, 79), Best (Rasiak, 83)
On the Cross verdict
Two convincing away wins in a row? You'd be forgiven for thinking that you'd been watching another team after our recent run of form away from home.
After creating and missing so many chances all season, Saints have shown an economy of finishing of late with far fewer chances, but still a decent goal tally, thanks in no small part of the quality finishing of Saganowski.
From the freak result against Wolves, there was a real fear that Saints would revert to type on the kind of ground that saw tame defeats to Colcester and Southend. However, Saints stood up well to the physical challenge thrown at them doing enough to keep it comfortable and preserve the legs for Monday's big clash against Sunderland.
It wasn't the pretty football Saints have produced for much of the season, but it was the kind of professional battling performance that has been all too infrequent. Job done and Saints even had the luxury of giving the fit again Belmadi an important run out ahead of a likely start against Sunderland.
In this incredible topsy-turvy league a set of near perfect results for Saints put us back into the top six when our season seemed to be slipping away and within two points of Preston in fourth. Of course Cardiff in ninth are just three points away from us and we face a real challenge against the form team in the league, but at least the play-offs are once again in our own hands.
Encouragingly, Saints have generally been good in the big fixtures and can call upon the extra quality of Skacel, Belmadi and Baird as required, so go into the fixture hopeful and with much improved confidence.
Man of the match: His loan signings have generally impressed more than his permanent ones and few more so than Liverpool's Danny Guthrie who ran the midfield for Saints and nearly opened his account for Saints with a powerful drive narrowly wide.
Cameo of the day: Great to see the Algerian wizard Djamel Belmadi back in action with a decent run out. Might well have scored when he jinxed his way into the box, but hopefully is saving his shooting boots for Monday.
With virtually a full strength squad to choose from, George Burley resisted the temptation to make too many changes from the 6-0 drubbing of Wolves. On a tight ground with a cut up pitch, Burley looked to add muscle and pace to his winning team with Viafara and Bale coming in for Ostlund and Skacel.
Surprisingly neither Baird or Lundekvam made even the bench, with Burley having half an eye on Monday's clash with the resurgent Sunderland. That meant Pele and Makin kept their places, albeit with a switch from left to right back for the solid, if unspectatular Makin.
The real success story at the back was Powell who seems ideally suited to a physical battle against the kind of direct football that Saints have struggled against all season. He was immense in the air and has rightfully earned himself a place in the first choice eleven.
In midfield Guthrie again showed what an excellent prospect he is with a high energy performance, full of controlled passing to keep Saints ticking over in midfield. On a difficult pitch it was understandable that the out of position Viafara and the cultured Surman struggled to play flowing football on the flanks.
Up front Best kept his place alongside the revelation that is Saganowski who scored yet again with a high quality volley after a flick-on from his hard-working strike partner.
With his goal record away from home Rasiak can feel hard done by only to make a substitute appearance, but he is rapidly becoming eclipsed by his Polish compatriot and was understandably a little selfish in trying to score.
Bialkowski
Makin, Powell, Pele, Bale
Viafara, Guthrie, Wright, Surman (Belmadi, 72)
Saganowski (Wright-Phillips, 79), Best (Rasiak, 83)
On the Cross verdict
Two convincing away wins in a row? You'd be forgiven for thinking that you'd been watching another team after our recent run of form away from home.
After creating and missing so many chances all season, Saints have shown an economy of finishing of late with far fewer chances, but still a decent goal tally, thanks in no small part of the quality finishing of Saganowski.
From the freak result against Wolves, there was a real fear that Saints would revert to type on the kind of ground that saw tame defeats to Colcester and Southend. However, Saints stood up well to the physical challenge thrown at them doing enough to keep it comfortable and preserve the legs for Monday's big clash against Sunderland.
It wasn't the pretty football Saints have produced for much of the season, but it was the kind of professional battling performance that has been all too infrequent. Job done and Saints even had the luxury of giving the fit again Belmadi an important run out ahead of a likely start against Sunderland.
In this incredible topsy-turvy league a set of near perfect results for Saints put us back into the top six when our season seemed to be slipping away and within two points of Preston in fourth. Of course Cardiff in ninth are just three points away from us and we face a real challenge against the form team in the league, but at least the play-offs are once again in our own hands.
Encouragingly, Saints have generally been good in the big fixtures and can call upon the extra quality of Skacel, Belmadi and Baird as required, so go into the fixture hopeful and with much improved confidence.
Man of the match: His loan signings have generally impressed more than his permanent ones and few more so than Liverpool's Danny Guthrie who ran the midfield for Saints and nearly opened his account for Saints with a powerful drive narrowly wide.
Cameo of the day: Great to see the Algerian wizard Djamel Belmadi back in action with a decent run out. Might well have scored when he jinxed his way into the box, but hopefully is saving his shooting boots for Monday.