The St Mary's crowd were singing the praises of that Little Latvian Marian Pahars this afternoon - and rightly so after the Southampton striker laid the platform for a valuable 2-0 victory over Sunderland this afternoon.

Pahars may have been stung by the recent £4.5m investment in Brett Ormerod, but Pahars seemed unperturbed at a bitterly cold St Mary's with an ice cool performance which eased Gordon Strachan's side further out of trouble.

Pahars bagged his eighth goal of the season in some style with a glorious 66th minute finish which had the Saints supporters on their feet and singing the little man's praises. From the tightest of angles Pahars buried his right-foot shot past Sunderland goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen and he could have so easily had a second moments later when his headed effort was comfortably cleared off the line.

This was an enormously important three points for Southampton who now face a tricky Christmas and New Year fixture list with games against Manchester United, Tottenham, Leeds and Chelsea but they will go into that arduous programme with confidence at a high after this vital victory this afternoon.

Manager Strachan had predicted Cup play football and a scrappier game than the one which saw Southampton canter to a 4-0 win at Leicester last week and the Scotsman was right as his team had to work hard to enjoy their spoils.

Chances were at a premium and Southampton went in at half-time a goal to the good thanks to a Jody Craddock own goal after 42-minutes when the Sunderland defender turned in a Chris Marsden cross into his own net under pressure from James Beattie.

When Pahars was substituted seven minutes from time to give a first team debut to new signing Ormerod, he received a standing ovation and rightly so, for a good afternoon's work.

See tonight's Pink and Monday's Daily Echo for full match reports and pictures.