Matt Oakley admitted he will be sad if his current side end his former employers play-off and Premiership hopes at Pride Park tonight.

Former Saints star Oakley, who joined the club's YTS scheme as a 15 year-old and spent 12 years at the Saints, was instrumental in helping Derby take a 2-1 lead into tonight's second leg by playing a key role in both goals for former Luton frontman Steve Howard in the first leg at St Mary's on Saturday.

Oakley left Saints at the end of last season and joined Derby on a free in August after Saints offered him only a one-year contract because of injury problems during the second-half of last season, while Oakley was hoping for a longer deal.

He said: "If we knock Southampton out it will be with a heavy heart for me.

"I was there for about 12 great years and didn't want to leave but the powers that be decided it was time for me for me to go.

"In the end I was very pleased that I did and it was probably a good decision in the long run."