2nd October 2002
Southampton 6-1 Tranmere
A scorching Chris Marsden shot went into the Tranmere goal after a poor goalkick from Whitehead after the kick off.
Of course , Saints couldn't let their fans go home without a scare and Tranmere managed to equalise despite Saints having the upper hand. Their freekick after looked to have been saved by Niemi only for the linesman to have rule that Graeme Allen's effort had crossed the line.
After the misery of recent Saints performances, where they couldn't have bought a goal, it was great to see such attacking football at St. Mary's.
Marsden's opener was followed soon after by Bridge shooting over the bar after a good run into the box. Hopefully we'll see more of this in weeks to come to add to his goal against Bolton.
James Beattie then found the lively Brett Ormerod in space after beating his man. Brett's shot went wide of the post.
After Tranmere's equaliser, Saints immediately got back on track as the pace of the game had been allowed to slow. Marsden put the ball into the Tranmere net immediately after the restart from Beattie's header. Unfortunately it was adjudged to be offside.
Saints continued to keep up the pressure though. Good work from Fernandes took him to the byeline His cross was headed on by Beattie to Ormerod who put the ball into the net to restore Saints' lead with an overhead kick.
Saints weren't prepared to let their guard down again, and continued to keep Tranmere in their own half. Oakley had a couple of good efforts go wide and Anders Svensson was full of tricks as he created chances and shot wide himself.
Saints were rewarded for their work before the break as Tranmere were caught passing the ball out from the back. The pacey Ormerod was on hand to nick the ball, get past his marker and slot the ball under the oncoming 'keeper.
James Beattie continued to have an excellent half. He was involved in most of Saints best moves, providing important touches and headers for others to have chances on goal. Just before the interval he set up Fernandes whose excellent shot went over.
Saints continued to look like scoring from everything before the break. Such was their confidence that even Claus Lundekvam, yet to score for Saints, almost got a goal from a Svensson corner.
Saints didn't have to worry about a Tranmere fight back after the interval.
Brett Ormerod started the second half as he had left the first, dribbling his way through the Tranmere defence to earn Saints a corner.
Saints continued to show some great touches and build up play. Ironically , their fifth goal needed neither. An absolute stunner was scored by Fabrice Fernandes as he took the ball from deep in his own half and surged up the park. With other Saints players helping to create space he carved his way through the Tranmere defence before rifling in a shot from eighteen yards at the 'keeper's near post.
Fernandes has become a real attacking threat for the Saints in recent weeks, and it was great to see him get the goal his work deserved.
Saints continued to keep up the pressure on a shell shocked Tranmere defence. Bridge had half a chance to make it five and Ormerod hit the bar from a Fernandes corner. Even Saints set pieces were of high quality which is something they will need to take into the Premiership games.
With the game secured, Gordon Strachan decided to make a change. Off came the influential James Beattie for Jo Tessem.
Saints midfield all continued to make space for the strikers, with creative runs and good passing all round. Saints fifth, however, came from a set piece. As much as Lundekvam would have loved to have been on the end of it, his defensive partner Michael Svensson opened his Saints account after a scrappy corner kick.
Saints went even further ahead as Brett Ormerod finally got the hat trick his great performance was crying out for. A crafty, quick Wayne Bridge free kick enabled Ormerod to shoot past the 'keeper from eighteen yards out.
Gordon Strachan misunderstood the fans' chants of "we want seven" by assuming we wanted to see Saints number seven, Andrei Kanchelskis. The former Manchester United star came on for the superb Chris Marsden who settled Saints into the game and had marshalled the midfield. Football genius indeed.
With Kanchelskis' introduction, the game began to wind down. Anders Svensson continued to go close with a couple of shots and Oakley had an opportunity to put his side even further ahead.
Brett Ormerod came off to a huge ovation to be replaced by Rory Delap. The Republic of Ireland international looked lively going forward but the game was really over before he appeared. Delap was rued to be offside as he pounced on a rebound from a chance created by Kanchelskis and put a header straight at Whitehead shortly afterwards.
Saints last effort went to Jo Tessem who put a long range shot well wide. At least he managed to stay onside that way.
I felt that, with the exception of Pahars, the first eleven put out by Saints were probably the best team we could field. With such a good win under their belts, hopefully the same lineup will be able to secure all three points from the must win home game against Manchester City on Saturday.