DEJAN STEFANOVIC reckons Pompey can clinch Premiership survival against Saints on April 24.

New manager Alain Perrin marked his first game in charge by leading Pompey to a first win in seven Premiership games.

And Stefanovic reckons the Frenchman will become a big favourite with the Fratton faithful if the club secure a third season in the top flight by avenging their two St Mary's defeats this season against Saints in 13 days time.

"Beating Charlton was a massive win for us but the biggest game of the season is still the Southampton match" said the defender, who was bought to Pompey for a then club record £1.8m by Harry Redknapp two years ago.

"The ideal scenario is for us to secure safety and send Southampton down, that's what the fans want to see and we owe it to them to finish the season on a high after all the upheaval of the last few months.

"We all know how intense the rivalry between the two clubs is and the fact we're both fighting at the bottom will only intensify that."

Yakubu's first goal in two months, a third minute header from Steve Stone's cross, gave Perrin's Pompey the perfect start and it got better when Stone doubled the lead by heading in Patrik Berger's 20th-minute free-kick.

But Jonathan Fortune reduced the arrears immediately, heading in Danny Murphy's left wing centre.

And then Murphy's direct free-kick in first- half stoppage time completed the rise and fall of Pompey's first half under Perrin.

But Perrin's bold second half tactics were more reminiscent of life at Fratton Park under Redknapp and a stark change from the defensive approach adopted under Velimir Zajec.

Pompey dominated the second half: Stefanovic was denied by a goalline clearance from Paul Konchesky and Yakubu struck a post before two goals in the last ten minutes.

Lomana Lua Lua was the architect behind the first, providing substitute Diomansy Kamara with the chance to angle a close-range header inside the far post with a brilliant drag back and cross.

Then Lua Lua completed his man-of-the-match performance with an injury-time fourth goal, finding the far corner after being sent clear by Yakubu.

It vindicated Perrin's decision to play the last 20 minutes with FOUR strikers after introducing Kamara and Premiership debutant Alexander Rodic to the fray.

"It was difficult for the players at 2-2 but I like to play with strikers, especially at home, because I like to win," said Perrin, who was accompanied by Pompey director Terry Brady to his post match press conference.

"I could have been defensive but that's not the way I like to play.

"Kamara likes to do the impossible and Lua Lua can eliminate players with his ability, they have a lot of talent.

"I saw the quality of the players in two training session and I did not give them that talent, I just gave them confidence and told them to play with heart."