Each game in the Championship on this Bank Holiday Monday seemed to have something on it and this was certainly no different as Southampton knew a win was vital for them as games start to run out at the wrong end of the table.

Changes from Saturday in the Palace line up see Matt Lawrence coming back into defence for Claude Davis whilst Jose Fonte and James Comley start in midfield. Anthony Stokes is on the bench and Shaun Derry misses out with due to an ankle injury.

Southampton had been appealing for support on this crucial afternoon and they certainly got it with a great atmosphere created before the game under clear blue sky at St Marys.

The home side started the game well and in the opening five minutes Jan Paul Saeijs put a free kick just outside the box into the wall and the same player then has a long range effort which went wide.

Palace's first opportunities of the game saw Rui Fonte found by Comley but the forward couldn't get it past the advancing 'keeper, Kelvin Davis.  This was followed shortly after, on 18 minutes, by Comley's cross being met by Shefki Kuqi but the striker's shot is deflected over the bar.

Just past the twenty minute mark saw Julian Speroni's first save of the afternoon.  He saves a powerful shot from Bradley Wright Phillips well and pushes the ball up into the air and it falls to Rudi Skacel and his header is cleared off the line by Lawrence. The official had seen an offence by Skacel as he challenged for the ball so the chance wouldn't have counted anyway.

Speroni not troubled though by the next two chances on goal by Mark Wotte's side. Andrew Surman shoots wide and on the half hour mark Adam Lallana curls a shot wide of the keeper's left hand post.

The keeper though was not on the field for much longer before he had to leave the action. He made an excellent save from Wright Phillips and when the rebound falls to Surman it is a brave save at the players feet. Whilst making the save he got a kick in the face and had to leave the field with blood coming from the wound. He is replaced in between the sticks by Clint Hill but no substitution as the Argentinian is only off the field for a short while getting stitches.

The temporary keeper did have to make one block though as he denied David McGoldrick from a shot inside the box.

He was soon in the action as Wright Phillips found  Jason Euell and he beats his man but his shot is well saved low down by Speroni in his first work since the absence.

The first caution of the afternoon as Rui Fonte is shown yellow by referee Mike Russell for a challenge on Skacel.

In added time of the half he makes an even better save as he tips a curling effort from Lallana around the post.

This was the final action of the half with Speroni certainly the man of the first half.

The first shot on goal in the second period came from the home side on 55 minutes as Lloyd James crosses for Euell but the effort went over the bar as he just got to the ball ahead of his man.

Soon after Saeijs will have been disappointed not to have done better with a header just inside the box as he made his way in to get on the end of a Paul Wotton free kick on the right hand side.  

Double substitution for Palace as Anthony Stokes and Kieron Cadogan come into the action at the expense of Victor Moses and Rui Fonte just past the hour mark.

The opening goal of the afternoon went to the home side as Speroni could do nothing about a strike from just outside the box from McGoldrick. He picked up the ball and ran on before firing into the net past the keeper and even though he got a hand to the shot, Speroni couldn't prevent the home side taking a 67th minute lead.  

Palace soon have two opportunities to get back on level terms but Hill and Stokes see chances go wide of the target.

The final change was made by Palace as Lee Hills replaced Jose Fonte with fourteen minutes remaining.

The home side had a chance to extend the lead as substitute Marek Schneiderlin headed wide of the target from a Surman corner with ten minutes remaining.  

As the fourth official indicated three minutes of added time Paddy McCarthy heads a Nathanial Clyne cross wide of the target.

In that added time Kelvin Davis produces a superb save to deny Kuqi but the resulting corner is cleared and the final whistle signals celebration from the home camp as their relegation battle goes on.

Teams

Southampton Davis, James, Perry, Saeijs, Skacel, Lallana,Wotton, McGoldrick (Liptak 90), Surman, Euell (Saganowski 66),Wright-Phillips (Schneiderlin 77).

Subs Not Used: Forecast, Smith.

Crystal Palace Speroni, Clyne, Lawrence, McCarthy, Hill,Comley, Jose Fonte (Hills 76), Carle, Rui Fonte (Stokes 63),Kuqi, Moses (Cadogan 63).

Subs Not Used: Scowcroft, Ertl.

Booked: Carle, Lawrence.

Att: 23,220   Referee : Mike Russell (Hertfordshire).