BLOSSOMING

Manager Gordon Strachan has tried Jo Tessem, Anders Svensson, Kevin Davies and Agustin Delgado alongside 23-goal Beattie this season.

But Ormerod has now firmly staked his claim for a regular starting spot with three goals in as many matches.

Ormerod, who is Saints' second top scorer this season with nine, was on target with a sweetly struck top-corner finish against Birmingham on Monday and insists there is still more to come.

The £1.5m signing from Blackpool said: "I'm enjoying playing with Beatts and I hope it helps the team.

"I feel we have got a good understanding going and I hope that we can keep it going.

"The gaffer has said that me and Beatts are a good partnership now.

"We have worked hard on it in training and things like that and it takes time to work on a partnership, and maybe we can see the result of that a little bit now."

He added: "I've been starting more regularly and that's a good start. I think you need to work on your first team place and try and keep it and I hopefully I can build on that.

"It's a big learning curve really when you're playing against world-class players and internationals week in week out.

"It's a big challenge but it's one that I'm enjoying and it's definitely rewarding work.

"It has been nice to be scoring, but we were a little disappointed to let in three against Birmingham.

"We had some good chances in the game and it was a bit of a sickener.

"But now we have to pick ourselves up for Charlton on Saturday which will be another tough game.

"The lads have shown good character and spirit all the way through the season though and we're looking to finish strongly in the league."

Although Ormerod went without scoring for 23 matches and five months before the FA Cup semi-final against Watford, he says he never lost believe in his ability and the knowledge that he was improving all the time.

"I'm happy now, but I never felt like I had lost my confidence," he said.

"It was not like I was missing a lot of chances. I went close with a few and it can do your head in a bit, but it is funny how you can turn it around.

"I always believed in my ability and I tried not to worry too much. You know you are not going to score every chance and you have just got to keep plugging away.

"It can just take a bit of luck and I always thought I would turn it around.

"I am happy with my play and I have improved all aspects of my game this season.

"Even if the goals haven't always come, I feel I am a much better all-round player now."

Against Birmingham, Saints were ultimately undone by a striker's masterclass from Christophe Dugarry and Ormerod added: "He is world class and you can always learn from players like him.

"He has played at the highest level and players like that have a certain aura about them."