Ormerod crushes Charlton uprising

Sometimes football statistics, the preserve of anoraks everywhere, should be consigned to what they are - history. These sides simply ignored the dire record of this fixture, in which goals have been rationed, to produce a match of endless endeavour and breathless energy. The "percentage Premiership" - in which winning is an afterthought to not losing - was rubbished.

No one did more than Charlton's Scott Parker who scored two brilliant goals and dragged his team back into the contest as they trailed badly. The 23-year-old is simply a force of nature at times. Superlatives are spent in trying to contain his potential. The watching Sven-Goran Eriksson was even driven to a wolfish grin after Parker's second goal hit the net. It was struck with such accuracy from 30 yards that Antti Niemi, in Southampton's goal, did not move.

That the home side were then themselves able to regroup and come again said much for their own tenacity. The winning goal, hooked in by Brett Ormerod after a flick-on by Michael Svensson, was as scrappy as the first which the Swedish defender had scored after just six minutes as he diverted the ball over the line from David Prutton's shot.

The result was cruel on Charlton but, for the bravery of Gordon Strachan's tactics alone, was deserved - just. "Great goals, great saves, good chances, clearances. The game had everything," Strachan said. "I don't think that will be any consolation to Alan but it made me feel good." And every supporter.

Alan Curbishley, Charlton's manager, did, however, draw some comfort. "I've got to be pleased with what we did in the second half," he said after a "shocking" first 45 minutes. "But it can be a cruel game. I thought it would go either way [after the equaliser]. We were either going to win or lose. Caution was thrown to the wind." Thrown? More like discarded with a reckless abandon.

Strachan had clearly had enough of his players' impotency of late, having not scored in their previous four Premiership matches. He brought in the newly fit Marian Pahars for his 100th start - 15 months after his last (incidentally also against Charlton) - and gave Prutton and Rory Delap their head. It was bold and aggressive and both young midfielders fired in ferocious shots early on as the visitors stuttered. Prutton, in particular, showed a desire to break forward in what was his best game for Southampton

Charlton were rocked back, battered by the tempo and fell behind early. After the first goal, Pahars appeared to be tripped in the penalty area but his dive was so pronounced it distracted the referee. Indeed, it was a full 18 minutes before Curbishley's side entered the opposing area with Jason Euell's shot deflected. The striker then grew in influence, twice cleverly providing for Paolo Di Canio but the Italian was found flat-footed in his bizarre black "wader"-style boots.

Just as the congested Charlton midfield appeared to be ascendant, James Beattie was put through by Ormerod. His first two touches took him away, his third chipped the ball wide. It was a bad miss - especially with an unconvinced Eriksson watching. The striker is, however, a chaser of lost causes and his determination quickly led to a low cross from the line which was steered in by Ormerod just on half-time. As a vignette it provided more food for thought for the England coach but choked the Charlton manager.

Parker then intervened. Just 30 seconds after the break he was supplied by Claus Jensen and curled in from 20 yards. The pendulum swung and another powerful shot from distance, by Graham Stuart, was beaten away while a second shivered the bar. Parker then collected the ball and thumped it past Niemi. "They scored two wonder goals. There isn't a lot you can do from coaching when faced by sheer brilliance," said Strachan. Indeed.

Charlton appeared the likely winners. Di Canio smashed a shot from eight yards which was beaten out by Niemi but then Ormerod, slaloming through was thwarted by an equally fine save. Still the chances came and, from a corner, Ormerod had his decisive moment. Kiely's legs then denied him his hat-trick but the game was already over.

Goals: Michael Svensson (6) 1-0; Ormerod (45) 2-0; Parker (46) 2-1; Parker (64) 2-2; Ormerod (86) 3-2.

Southampton (4-4-2): Niemi 6; Dodd 5, Lundekvam 5, Michael Svensson 6, Higginbotham 5; Telfer 4, Delap 7, Prutton 6, Pahars 6 (Phillips, 76); Ormerod 67, Beattie 6. Substitutes not used: Jones (gk), Fernandes, Hall, Delgado.

Charlton Athletic (4-4-2): Kiely 6; Kishishev 4, Perry 5, Fortune 4, Hreidarsson 4; Holland 6, Jensen 6, Parker 8, Stuart 6; Di Canio 5 (Cole, 76), Euell 7. Substitutes not used: Royce (gk), Sankofa, Mathias Svensson, Powell.

Referee: P Walton (Winwick) 6.

Man of the match: Parker.

Attendance: 30,513.