KEVIN PHILLIPS never lost faith in himself - and now hopes he has given manager Gordon Strachan a real selection headache.

The former Sunderland man struck his first league goal since the opening day of the season against Leicester, with Brett Ormerod also scoring to sink bottom-of-the-table Leeds 2-1.

Top-scorer James Beattie was rested on Saturday, with Phillips and Ormerod staking their claim for a regular partnership.

Phillips, who was ending a 14-game drought, said: "I always knew the goals were in me.

"The lack of goals has worried other people more than me.

"I've always felt if I get chances that I would score.

"I've obviously been playing a bit-part lately and it's nice to start and get a goal.

"It's been a long while since I have left the stadium feeling happy.

"At the end of the day whoever you play alongside, you hope you are playing. The manager has chosen me and Brett and that is his decision.

"Hopefully we have given him a dilemma for who he will pick in the next game. I'm sure that is a good problem for him to have."

Phillips had other chances to add to his tally, but twice just missed the target with fierce efforts.

"Funnily enough, I'm feeling a bit disappointed," he admitted.

"I had a few chances and I should really have had the match-ball.

"As critical as I am of myself, I will analyse the goals I should have had."

Coming off the back of five games without a victory, Phillips added of Saints' first success of 2004: "It was a must win.

"The positive thing was that we have created quite a few chances and we have won the game which is great.

"You don't have to be a genius to work out we needed a win.

"In the last few seasons when Southampton have needed a result they have tended to get it."

After suffering what was ultimately a long and futile battle against relegation with Sunderland last season, Phillips also had words of comfort for Leeds.

"It's harsh for Leeds," he said. "They've got their backs to the wall and fought back.

"I was in the same situation last year and all I can say is for them to keep going. They have got quality players and quality players to come back in.

"Alan Smith typified Leeds - he was by far their best player.

"As a player you have to just try to be professional about it and let things off the park take care of themselves.

"I feel for Leeds, they are a big club.

"We knew it would be tough with them scrapping for their lives, although I'm sure they wouldn't have relished coming to St Mary's when we also needed a result."

One other man generally pleased with the afternoon was Saints boss Gordon Strachan, who said: "The number of chances we made was far better than in recent months.

"We had more variation, and more shots on target, which was better. At 2-0 we were maybe fortunate to have that scoreline, but from then until 2-1 there could have been a lot more goals.

"We had a lot of chances and a lot of good positions and when it went to 2-1 it was a tense finish, but we could have scored another two or three ourselves.

"So we're happy with our days' work, but not happy with the lack of concentration and focus on the goal we conceded - but that's been our problem."