Saints got off the mark with their first win of season against Stoke at St Mary's this afternoon.

They suffered an early setback but rallied to take a 3-2 win and the three points to set their season back on course.

George Burley made two changes from the side that lost to Norwich.

With Kenwyne Jones 'on strike', Bradley Wright-Phillips partnered Grzegorz Rasiak up front with Darren Powell coming in to partner Wayne Thomas in central defence.

Stoke took the lead with their first real attack on ten minutes - and it was former Saints Ricardo Fuller who scored.

The source of the goal was rather predictable with a long straight ball up the middle which Mamady Sidibe won in the air in a challenge with Darren Powell.

His flick on fell in the box for Fuller who controlled on his chest and had room away from Wayne Thomas to swivel round and fire his shot into the bottom corner leaving Kelvin Davis with no chance.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis was left berating the referee after Mamade Sidibe had received a nasty cut that forced him off for stitches following a challenge with Thomas.

Saints made the most of Stoke being down to ten men by equalising on 36 minutes.

The goal itself was out of nothing as Andrew Surman looked up 25 yards out and saw little on so took a shot that flew low across Simonsen and into his bottom left hand corner.

Saints took the lead on 70 minutes.

Surman got away down the left, got to the by-line and whipped in a cross on to the head of Rasiak who put it into Simonsen's bottom right hand corner.

Saints looked to have wrapped up the points when they further ahead on 75 minutes.

A cross into the Stoke area was only cleared to Jhon Viafara who got the ball out from under his feet to lash home a half volley from 12 yards.

But the Potters got back into the game when some awful marking allowed sub Jon Parkin to steer Wilkinson's header into the far corner.

Davis got a touch which gave Jermaine Wright on the line no chance.

There was a controversial moment as Fuller shot just over the bar from a drop ball when Saints were expecting it to be given back to Davis.

But Saints did it what they had to do and saw out the time in convincing fashion for their first win of the season.

For the best reaction and pictures from St Mary's don't miss Monday Sport.