HARRY REDKNAPP'S reign as Saints boss started with an agonising 2-2 St Mary's draw with high-flying Boro, who scored twice in the closing minutes of the match.

Redknapp's arrival seemed to instil a new belief and some previously lacking confidence into the team.

They looked full value for what seemed like it would be only their third win of the season and, in particular, the new-look strike pairing of Kevin Phillips and Peter Crouch looked impressive.

Saints took the lead at the best possible time - just seconds before the interval, when Phillips headed home a beautifully flighted Graeme Le Saux cross.

Crouch got the second on 64 minutes, heading home a Le Saux corner.

Although Boro pushed to get back into the game a combination of some good defending, a great save from Antti Niemi and the post kept Saints safe until seconds before full-time, when Danny Higginbotham inadvertantly headed into his own net from Stewart Downing's corner.

And then Downing broke Saints hearts with a 25-yard blockbuster that meant the game ended in a draw rather than what seemed set to be a glorious beginning to the Redknapp era.

FOR FULL MATCH REPORTS, PICTURES AND ANALYSIS SEE TONIGHT'S PINK AND MONDAY'S DAILY ECHO.