The striker with the country's hottest scoring streak broke the ice on a frozen Dell pitch to continue Saints climb up the table.

James Beattie continued his amazing trot with a powerful header that broke Derby's stubborn resistance. The Rams had come to the Dell with a record of seven clean sheet in nine games and on a pitch only just passed fit for play by referee Andy D'Urso looked as though they were going to stretch that run and frustrate Saints.

Conditions were not exactly easy at kick-off and as the sun went down and the temperature dropped players found it even more difficult to keep their feet .

Not surprisingly players gingerly keeping their footing it was difficult for either side to find any rhythm and flowing football was at a premium.

What there was came from Saints who mixed it up neatly with a combination of short passing when they could and long balls when necessary.

Saints only scares came in the first-half with Paul Jones double save denying Deon Burton and Malcolm Christie but it was that man Beattie who again came up trumps for Saints.

Well policed by Ter West and debutant Youle Mawene, Beattie had to survive on scraps of service for much of the game but when his one chance came he buried it.

Beattie's winner continued a great festive season by Saints who have taken seven points out of nine from their three holiday games so far to continue their climb towards mid-table and away from the relegation dogfights.

Full-time score: Saints 1 (Beattie 73) - Derby 0

* For full match reports and pictures see tonight's Pink and The New Year's Day edition of the Southern Daily Echo on sale on Monday morning.

* Portsmouth and Bournemouth both had a day off today as their games at Grimsby and Cambridge fell victim to the weather.