Saints could have the Matts pulled from under them at Old Trafford where they look likely to be without two of their most creative players.

Matthew Le Tissier and Matthew Oakley are both doubtful for the clash with the champions after limping out of last night's dismal 2-0 home defeat by Manchester City.

Le Tissier appears to be the more serious, tweaking knee ligaments as he came off worst in an uneven contest with Richard Dunne who thundred in with a meaty touchline tackle.

Saints fear he could be out for a few weeks while Oakley is less serious but still struggling for Saturday's second half of the quickfire Manchester double bill.

Dismayed manager Glenn Hoddle said: "It is too early to say with either of them. At the moment tt looks as though Le Tissier could be out for some time while Oakley took a bang on the calf.

"At least it is a kick rather than a strain. He will be out for three or four days and might just make the weekend."

The injuries were a double disappointment on top of an already thoroughly miserable night as Saints slumped to their third home defeat of the season.

They never got going against a robust and unrelenting City side and Hoddle conceded: "We did not deserve anything from the game.

"There have been many times this season when I thought we deserved to win for the way we played but I cannot say that on this occasion.

"I was very disappointed in our performance. It was the worst we have played all season but I have no idea why we were so flat. It is something we will have to look at.

"I did not think we were big enough or strong enough to respond after going behind. At times like that you have to want the ball and I did not think we did that.

"We needed someone to keep a cool head and to have a clinical finish but it was all a bit frenetic and it did not help that we lost two players who might have made a difference.

"I thought we should have had a penalty. It was handball, that's for sure but the referee did not see it. These decisions change games but it is still no excuse because we did not deserve anything."

City managed only three serious efforts on target but two were cracking finishes and boss Joe Royle said: "The two goals didn't belong in that game to be honest. At one point I thought it was a contest to see who could give the ball away most often and Southampton just about won it.

"Danny Tiatto said it was a good job he scored because it was the first ball he hit straight all night and I didn't disagree.

"I thought our passing was haphazard. We gave the ball away cheaply at times but I can't be too angry. When I remember we were chasing Lincoln around on a cold Tuesday night in the Second Division two years ago, I'll settle for winning at Southampton in the Premiership

"Paul Dickov could not even get in that side then and could have left us. But he has come on in leaps and bounds and the quality of his finishing is now better than ever. Two years ago he would have put that over.

The Saints Travel Club depart for Old Trafford at 7am on Saturday and not at 7.30 as printed in last night's programme.