Graham Hiley reports from Saints' clash with Sheffield United at the Dell...

Glenn Hoddle stuck with the side which performed so well at Liverpool, preferring not to risk Dean Richards who was left on the bench after missing two games with a virus.

He lost a fair bit of weight through illness which left him still weak in the run up to the game e team so Hoddle opted for an unchanged line-up. Chris Marsden and Mark Draper recovered from injury to claim places on the bench.

United had ex- Pompey midfielder Michael Brown suspended and former England Under 21 International Wayne Quinn was left out ahead of his proposed move to Fratton Park in a reported swap for Lee Bradbury.

Saints were first to threaten with Dodd driving in low from 35 yards and Beattie diverted it with a flick but Tracey reacted well, diving to his left to catch.

Jones just won a race for the ball with Devlin to kick clear from outside his area but Montgomery was closed down quickly before he could drive the ball back in.

Sandford got away with what looked like a handball from a header by Pahars on the edge of the United area and then Jones had to clear from Devlin again.

Saints went desperately close when Dodd found Beattie who controlled neatly on the right and turned the ball across for Tessem in front of goal. His shot was pushed onto the left-hand post by Tracey and Kozluk tracked across well to block the folllow-up by Davies.

Good play by Davies saw him trip his way forward but his clever angled through ball was just too far in front of Beattie as Saints continued to make most of the early running.

Uhlenbeek was warned for a foul on Pahars then Ford sent a 20-yard shot comfortably wide.

A foul by Lundekvam on Woodhouse gave United a free-kick 28-yards out with Devlin's shot clearing the wall but also the bar.

Sandford and Tracey got themselves in a tangle under pressure from Beattie who tumbled over the keeper amid loud appeals for a penalty but referee David Ellery ruled it was accidental as the ball rolled agonisngly towards the goal with Pahars desperately trying to get a touch as it ran away from him.

But United's well-organised defence which was frustrating the home side and their fans.

Handball by Montgomery gave Southampton a free-kick near the left touchline and midway inside the visitors half on 27 minutes. Bridge clipped it in for El Khalej who got in a stooping header but could not get enough power to trouble the keeper.

Bridge did well to get close to the byline but his cross was nodded away from Soltvedt by Murphy at the near post.

A good, deep cross from Dodd found Soltvedt 16 yards out after breaking well from midfield. He had space to chest down neatly and to take a touch before shooting but Kozluk blocked well.

Saints made a substitution on 34 minutes when Draper came on for Oakley who looked far from happy as he made straight for the dressing room although it was not clear whether the switch was for injury or tactical reasons.

A lay off by Tessem gave Pahars space to run at the Sheffield defence but Murphy got across well to block the shot from 20 yards.

Saints hit the woodwork again on 39 minutes as Tracey tried to shepherd the ball over the goal-line. It had seemed a wasted through ball by Lundekvam prompting another moan from the crowd but Beattie chased it down and robbed the keeper with referee David Ellery ruling it was a fair challenge.

From an almost impossible angle Beattie whipped the ball in low towards the unguarded goal but saw it strike the outside of the post.

Santos was warned for an apparent elbow on Soltvedt. Two minutes before the break Montgomery was booked for a foul on Pahars out near the left-wing but the free-kick by Bridge was headed away by Uhlenbeek.

In injury time Dodd and Tessem combined to find Pahars who had swapped flanks with Davies and cut in from the left. He lifted a delicate chip over the keeper and also over the bar. Half-time: SAINTS 0 - SHEFFIELD UNITED 0

*** For the full match report and pictures see Saturday's Pink and Monday's Daily Echo***