FIRST there was the Pagan Princess, and now Southampton have brought in a sports psychologist to aid their flagging fortunes.

Manager Gordon Strachan revealed after Saturday's 2-0 win over Sunderland that the psychologist has been working with the team for the past fortnight - a period which has coincided with spectacular victories over the Black Cats, Leicester City and Charlton Athletic.

"As a football manager, I'm looking for every avenue to help the players," revealed Strachan.

"It is not as easy as it was 20 years ago when you had a manager who just threatened the players that they would be off at half-time if they didn't play.

"We are dealing with different types of temperament now, and different types of people, so we are trying out best.

"You can't rule with an iron rod to a group of people any more, we're looking at the best ways of dealing with the players."

Southampton were being coy about the identity of the psychologist, who is known as Amanda. But the Daily Echo understands that she works with the London-based organisation, Sporting Body & Mind, which is run by John Syer, the team builder employed by Glenn Hoddle when he was in charge managing Saints.

Dyer is currently working with Hoddle at Tottenham.

Victory over Sunderland, thanks to a Jody Craddock own goal and superb second half finish from Marian Pahars, consolidated Saints' position in 17th place.

It was a hard-earned, but a deserved victory as Southampton head into a difficult Christmas and New Year programme with fixtures against Manchester United, Spurs, Leeds and Chelsea - with Liverpool twice and then Manchester United once again to follow in January.Strachan knows he will need every edge possible to pick up points over the next six weeks, and he is prepared to use a science which he employed to good effect while playing at Manchester United and Leeds.

He added: "I will do anything which is legal to make the players feel better with themselves, because I'm not saying I have the answer to every player's problem.

"We are living in a different world. We are uniformed in how we are disciplined, in how you are paid. You get in the reserve team you get an extra £20, you get in the first team you get an extra £50, we are dealing with the guys who might have problems with different things in their lives.

"So we are open-minded. Some players are sceptical, but I have asked for the benefit of the team for them to join in.

Let's not get away from it that we have worked extremely hard to secure these wins, but Amanda has joined our group, and if she can make it better then fair play.

"I have used everything, the Pagan Princess, the sports psychologist, and I'll use the players every now and then. The Pagan Princess wasn't my idea, but if she works she can come again!"