STEVE WIGLEY highlighted the return from injury of some of his most influential players as the key factor in Saints' derby win.

James Beattie and Graeme Le Saux went straight back into the starting line-up while Jason Dodd was called into action from the bench after only 16 minutes.

Beattie and Le Saux had not played even a single minute of reserve team football since being injured during the 0-0 stalemate at home to Manchester City on October 2.

And Dodd had only had 70 minutes of reserve team football at Norwich three days earlier since playing at Villa on the opening day of the season.

All three looked slightly short of full match sharpness but showed great courage and their very presence clearly lifted the team.

It also lifted Wigley. He said: "What we had back was a few players that have reputations and presence.

"I've been delighted with the lads that have come in and worked in the team, but when you start to get one or two people back it doesn't half help.

"All of a sudden we're looking much stronger than we were two weeks ago.

"There was a few of them that hadn't had that much training but I felt it was important the team we put out had to have been round the block a bit.

"It's a local derby, a passionate game that means so much to everybody.

"I just felt I needed as many people out there that were fully aware of the situation."

He continued: "Graeme came in and did a good job and thankfully he's had a bit of training behind him.

"Jason Dodd was my one - on Friday I came in and he was the first person I saw.

"I said 'you ready for it?' He said 'I'm ready for it. I want to play.'

"I then spent the next half hour debating whether I was going to start him or not because he brings so much to the team.

"I decided it might just be a little bit too much because he'd been out for a long time but he came on and was excellent."

A delighted Wigley added: "I felt this was the perfect game for the situation we were in.

"It couldn't be a better game because it was one where people had to stand up and be counted.

"If they wanted to walk round this town they had to deliver and they've gone a little bit of the way to putting things right.

"On Thursday I said it wasn't about me - it was about my players and thankfully they delivered.

"They were worth their win and it's the first step to a little bit of respectability.

"But we need to get up that league because we're better than where we are."