THE star of the show for Saints on Saturday wasn't even on the pitch.

Following the exertions of Wednesday night, the players looked largely subdued early on.

Indeed, for the first hour, Charlton found Saints' general threat about as frightening as a 50-50 challenge with Fabrice Fernandes.

But none of that could stop the fans from paying an end of season tribute to their biggest hero.

And he certainly deserved it.

Antti Niemi has not only superseded James Beattie as player-of-the-season but also, arguably, as the club's most important single player.

At The Valley on Saturday, the flag of Finland covered the away supporters' end, blond wigs and bleached hair were the order of the day and numerous Southampton faces were painted white with a blue cross.

Niemi has, or course, been a colossus for Saints ever since his arrival at St Mary's almost two years ago from Hearts.

So what makes him so special?

It's a difficult quality to explain or quantify, but like many great players, the Finn has a real presence. He has it both on and off the field.

No disrespect to either Paul Jones or Alan Blayney, who have both deputised well at different times during the past two seasons, but there is somehow an added calmness to the Saints team when Niemi is between the sticks.

You get the feeling he could be sat in a sauna with World War III breaking out before his eyes and still his pulse wouldn't rise much above 45 beats a minute.

But, for all his serenity, it is the agility, positioning and breathtaking shot-stopping ability that makes Niemi such a good goalkeeper.

If there was initially any weakness when he came to Saints, it was perhaps that he rarely came for crosses and did not dominate the penalty area.

But this season, that area of his game has noticeably improved and his sound judgement of when to come for a cross, allied to excellent handling and the aerial presence of centre-backs Michael Sven-sson and Claus Lundekvam, have made him appear consistently flawless.

Even when he makes an amazing save, not a blade of hair ever seems to move out of place!

And anyone who seriously thinks there has been a better keeper in the league this season has simply not seen enough of Southampton in 2003/4.

The stats which place him as the best shot-stopper in the top-flight back this up and it is certainly no exaggeration to suggest a relegation battle could have threatened without him.

The fans certainly realise this and Niemi, who was ruled out by a virus, showed on Saturday why he is every bit as respected off the pitch as on it.

Aware that thousands of fans had made him the subject of their end-of-season celebration, Niemi spent between 2pm and about 2.50pm mobbed in the away end signing autographs and mingling with the supporters.

It was a gesture typical of the modest and respectful way Niemi quietly goes about his business.

His outstanding form makes it inevitable that he will be the subject of transfer speculation, but it genuinely appears he is unmoved by reported interest from the likes of Arsenal and is quite happy to stay at St Mary's.

Indeed, in what is surely music to the ears of any Saints fan, manager Paul Sturrock said in the week that Niemi is a big part of his plans for next season.

Negotiations to upgrade his contract are looming and chairman Rupert Lowe should, within reason, show just how highly the club values their flying Finn.

Nothing he has said or done has ever suggested he is driven by money in any way.

But, if there is any justice in the world, no one at Southampton currently deserves to be earning more than Antti Niemi.