Report by Julian Jenkins

A five goal second half saw the Saints take the points to boost their survival hopes, while also denting the Bluebirds top six chances for the season finale.

A year is a long time in football and that was well illustrated as the Saints took on the Bluebirds on Saturday. Twelve months ago Southampton were looking as if they could possibly avoid the Premiership drop under the guidance of Harry Redknapp and we were fighting for our lives in the Championship under Lennie Lawrence.

How the tide has turned. We started the day looking towards the last 6 games with the hope of making a play off place and our counterparts are looking over their shoulder at two successful relegations.

Both Clubs have had a change of manager with former Saints boss Dave Jones making his return to his former club where he had superb success with a number of awards going his way - notably the 1998 Premiership manager of the year.

City went into the game without Stephen Thompson who missed the game due to a hamstring injury. Nsungu came into the starting line up and Andrea Ferretti has made the step up to the bench.

Football has no time for sentiment and that was clear. April fools day all jokes ended at noon as both teams got down to business, this was no joking matter for differing reasons.

The first real action came in the seventh minute with both sides creating chances. Nsungu managed to get on the end of a cross headed the ball down for Cooper but his shot was easily saved by Kevin Miller. The Saints then broke and the ever-willing Rasiak headed down to Richard Chaplow who, on loan from West Brom hit a volley that flew past Alexander's right hand post.

Jason Koumas got plenty of change out of full back Baird and gave him a torrid time. After 14 mins Koumas one another of his runs and Baird had no answer and brought him down. Koumas got to his feet and hit a right foot curler that forced Miller to turn the ball around the post.

It was the proceeding corner from Koumas that forced Jim Brennan to clear of the line after Glenn Loovens nearly gave the Bluebirds the lead.

On the stroke of forty minutes Southampton had the best chance of the half with a neat one two ending in Peter Madsen being one on one with Alexander but his shot was poor and the City keeper had an easy save to make when Madsen should have really given the Saints the lead.

Southampton finished the half on top when Fuller went on a run down the City left after Koumas had given possession away. His cross was met by Wright, but again the Saints finishing let them down.

The Bluebirds went into the interval knowing that the game was there for the taking. The question was 'Were they going to take it?'

Half time: Southampton 0 - 0 Cardiff City

The start of the second half saw Neil Cox replace Glenn Loovens. Loovens didn't return after the break and with such a good first half under his belt it must have been forced to sit the second forty-five out.

The first real chance of the game then came and the ball was in the back of the net a corner from the right. The ball was met by Claus Lundekvam at the near post and the ball flew into the back of the Bluebirds net.

Southampton mounted another attack straight after the goal with Fuller getting on the end of a through ball. Chris Barker covered well and managed to catch the front man as he bore down on goal.

It wasn't long before the Bluebirds got back on level terms with a scrambled goal from a Jason Koumas corner. The ball hit the cross bar twice and looked to have crossed the line before Jerome forced the ball home.

This game had plenty more in it with both sides playing decent football and looking to attack at every opportunity.

On 57 minutes it was the turn of the Bluebirds to defend and a great save from Neil Alexander diving to his right to pull off a great reaction save and deny Fuller.

Sixty-six minutes had passed and City manager Dave Jones made his second change of the afternoon bringing on Andrea Ferretti to replace Nsungu. Ferretti had been scoring regularly in the reserves.

It wasn't long before the Saints got their second with the Impressive Fuller skipping past Darren Purse to wrong foot Alexander at his near post and the ball slowly trickled into the back of the Bluebirds net.

Fuller got his second goal of the game on75 minutes after another corner found Fuller un marked from a knock down and he dispatched a right footed shot under the body of Alexander to give the Saints a 3-1 lead.

The last throw of the dice came when Willie Boland replaced Kevin Cooper who once again had worked his socks of for the Blue shirt of City.

The Bluebirds threw themselves a lifeline as Purse pulled the deficit back to one goal with a fine header from a great cross from Neal Ardley.

With four minutes of injury time held up by the fourth official City threw everything but the kitchen sink at their opponents.

We now move into the final five games of the season - three at home and two away. What will be of our chances to make the play offs?

Dave Jones has always maintained the club has come along way since he came in the summer of 2005 and as long as it is mathematically possible neither he nor his players will give up the ghost.

On the whole either team could have won this fixture in the impressive St Mary's stadium today it belong to Burley but our boys will dust themselves off and go again at home on Saturday against promoted Reading.

Final Score: Southampton 3 - 2 Cardiff City