George Burley felt scoring the first goal of the game was the key to Saints' FA Cup third round win at Torquay.
Grzegorz Rasiak took his tally for the season to 18 with a double either side of half-time to ease Saints past the Football League's bottom club at Plainmoor.
The conditions were tricky with a bobbly pitch but Saints ensured they will be in the hat for Monday's fourth round draw with a comfortable victory.
Burley said: "I think when you come to grounds like this and the conditions are very tricky the first goal is so vital and we got it.
"We started brightly and their keeper made a couple of saves. Torquay came back after we got the first goal but I felt we'd won the match."
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