Saints ended their four-game search for a goal in dramatic style as James Beattie's belting free-kick and 19-year-old debutant Leandre Griffit's majestic late strike did for ten-man Blackburn in a 2-0 win at St Mary's.
It was Saints' first win in six and looked rather unlikely at half-time after a torrid and hugely-unentertaining first period.
But, after the re-start, the game caught alight with Saints looking back to their dominant best. Beattie won a central free-kick 25 yards out on 59 minutes and nonchalantly stepped up himself to fire the ball into Brad Friedel's bottom right hand corner.
Six minutes later, there was a mass brawl on the pitch, which saw Andy Cole red carded after raising his hands to both Rory Delap and Michael Svensson.
Saints continued to be in control and, when Gordon Strachan threw Griffit on after 82 minutes, it became a dream debut.
With three minutes remaining, Beattie laid the ball on for the Frenchman, who clamly side-footed the ball past Friedel from the edge of the area as if he's been doing it all his life.
Full-time scores from some of the top clubs in the south
Newcastle 3 v Portsmouth 0
Oldham 1 v Bournemouth 1
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