JAMES BEATTIE felt his opening goal was important to "settle" Saints last night.

Gordon Strachan's men had withstood some early pressure at Ashton Gate before eventually running out comfortable 3-0 winners in their Carling Cup third round tie.

Beattie, who scored after 31 minutes, said: "It was a good result, although the gaffer wasn't totally happy and we felt we could have won by more.

"It's still a decent result and it's good to get through and it was good for Brett Ormerod to get a goal.

"The first goal settled our nerves and we started to play a bit more. For my goal Fabrice Fernandes laid it back and Rory Delap put it in.

"I had a feeling the defender would misjudge it - I could see the keeper coming at me and I just wanted to get it past him quickly."

The final goal was scored by Graeme Le Saux, who was given a rare sight at goal from a free-kick following Beattie's hot form from dead-ball situations this season.

The striker said: "The free-kick just favoured Graeme's left-foot. I don't know if he will want to take more - we will just have to look at each one and decide."