The game was not as easy as the scoreline suggests, but Saints put in a clinical performance to beat a Swansea City side full of determination.

This was a game that needed to be won by Saints, they have had a mixed start to the season and this game perhaps indicated what Saints season would hold. Yes there are plenty of reasons why it hasn't started with the same big bang as last season, but there have been a few reasons why that has been the case, some have been due to injury both long and short term and some have been to do with individual lapses and mistakes, but with Ryan Betrand's return the injury crisis is nearing its end and this game marked the time to start to play to our undoubted capabilities on the pitch.

This was no easy game though, Swansea are a good well organised side, they had 59% of the play in this game, they looked dangerous to the very end, but it perhaps shows how well Saints coped with the visitors and imposed themselves on the game.

We had 18 shots to their 11 and we had 7 on target to their 4 and that is the evidence of a clinical performance that harks back to our great form last year, we had to be tight at the back, chase the ball for long periods, but when we got the ball use it well and it is testimony to the way that the entire team did it's job is that at no time did you feel that Saints were anything else but in control of the game.

An early goal always helps but the opener on 11 minutes could easily have been the third after both sides had good early chances, however Virgil Van Dijk's firt goal for the club was a well worked set piece, the corner was played by JWP superbly into the near post, Davis came out taking his man with him,Pelle drew out two players by making a run towards the ball and VVD ran into the space created to steer the ball home with a great header from an acute angle.

That put Saints in charge and although The Swans had plenty of possession Saints made sure that rarely did they get too much chance to get a chance on goal, a Shelvey shot from distance almost squirming under Steklenburg, but the Dutch keeper had done all the basics right so he kept it out.

Saints got a similar start to the second half as the first, Pelle played a glorious through ball to Tadic who crossed for what would have been a certain goal for Mane, however it took a deflection from a defender and it squirmed in at the near post.

Saints were now in command and Pelle was the architect again for the third and Sadio Mane steered home the ball into the corner.

The game was won now or was it, with 7 minutes to play Saints lost concentration and Fonte's rash challenge saw a penalty awarded and Swansea were now pushing for a second that would noyt only make the last few minutes uncomfortable for Saints but would mean that the Swans would stay above Saints on goal difference in the table, so most in St Mary's were unaware just how a goal for Swansea even if it was a consolation would mean to the table.

Saints regained their cool and rebuffed the late Swansea charge to win the game and win it well.

So Saints are back to form and now need to keep that form going over the next few weeks, they are up to 9th and that is significant and a psychological boost, it certainly sounds better than the 11th it would have been if Swansea had go that late second goal.

It was truly a team display and overall there wasn't a player who in my opinion had less than 8, but several players scored 9, Victor Wanyama was immense in the way that he marshalled the midfield and won the ball, Virgil Van Dijk was strong at the back and scored a great goal, but for me after watching the highlights on TV the man of the match was Graziano Pelle, he showed hos to lead a line, he was at the heart of all three goals and he put in 100% effort throughout the game, he didn't score but he made space for others and brought them into the game.

Good win for Saints now we truly march on

Photo: Action Images

Zambucco added 11:03 - Sep 27 I'm liking this new Pelle, maybe something to do with the competition from Jayrod? I think VVD is the key, and he's still finding his feet, Victor is getting better, David almost back to his best, Tadic comes and goes, Mane is a must in the line up, Soares had a big job yesterday against Montero and did okay, room for improvement, you wouldn't have thought that Bertie had been out injured for so long, slotted straight back in. We seem to lose concentration around 25 minutes? Worrying

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SaintNick added 11:13 - Sep 27 A big step forward and being only 4 points off the top 3 its a solid start to the season
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IWOZTHERE added 11:29 - Sep 27 Divided loyalties....A Swansea goal with the last kick of the match would have netted me 200 quid for a pound! I had 3-2 with VVD to score first. Never mind, all seems to be coming together now. Hope we get the chance to have a look at Clasie soon.
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landsdownsaint added 11:35 - Sep 27 Just to say how great Pelle was again ,he gives 100% & technically he's very good ,when we first got him I thought he was crap ! ... He's my fav player now lol
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saintsnutcase added 12:47 - Sep 27 Agree with everyone about VVD, Pelle and Victor. But I am still a bit unconvinced about Stek. He got lucky with two rebounds off him yesterday, though he was better in the second half.
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legod7 added 22:38 - Sep 27 Pelle seems to play better in a front three with Tadic & Mane rather than with JRod & Mane
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