Southampton made the Boxing Day trip to their 'not so local' rivals Plymouth Argyle, looking to improve on the stoical 0-0 draw that former Saints boss Paul Sturrock's side had ground out at St. Mary's at the tail end of November.

Head coach Jan Poortvliet made four changes from the team that lost against Nottingham Forest, with a late injury to Lallana and half an eye on the fast approaching Reading match leading to the omission of Chris Perry and Bradley Wright-Phillips who did not travel.

There was also no place on the bus for Jason Euell, whilst Alex Pearce dropped to the bench with Olly Lancashire and Jack Cork taking up the centre-back berths behind Simon Gillett and Academy scholar Oscar Gobern, Surman in the 'hole' behind McGoldrick and Lee Holmes and Ryan Smith playing on the wings.

The home side had the better of the opening exchanges and almost opened the scoring on 24 minutes when only a fantastic double save from Saints stopper Kelvin Davis kept things level.

Davis first blocked a shot from Chris Clark with his feet, but as the ball looped up inside the six yard box it found the head of Argyle striker Rory Fallon and Davis stuck out a late hand to push the former-Swansea man's header away.

Saints then carved out their best chance of the first half as the recalled Ryan Smith almost immediately took the ball up the other end and put in a shot toward the back post, which deflected kindly into McGoldrick's path.

The young Saints striker headed the ball down, but a great reaction save from Romain Larrieu kept the ball out and the scores tied.

Academy midfielder Oscar Gobern showed that he was not afraid to get forward, and tried a low shot from distance on the half hour that went narrowly wide of the right-hand post, before Plymouth took a lead in the run up to half time.

Having been denied once already, and having scored in this fixture last season, FALLON was back on the score sheet in the 38th minute after getting onto the end of Craig Noone's cross and hitting home with a powerful header from close range.

Half-Time: Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Southampton

Saints made a bright start to the second spell after emerging unchanged from the dressing room, but any plans of a revival were soon dashed when the Pilgrims were awarded a controversial penalty in the 50th minute.

Referee Roger East indicated that he had spotted a handball by Lancashire, who was booked accordingly, but the young defender later claimed to have been hit in the face by Fallon's shot, claims that were backed-up by his colleagues' evident on the field anger.

Goalkeeper Kelvin Davis and Rudi Skacel's protestations earned them bookings of their own, but Luke SUMMERFIELD had no such angst as he slotted home his second spot kick of the season with a confident shot to Davis' right.

Saints had already packed up and gone home by this time last week, but resolved to fight their way out of trouble and went just inches from pulling a goal back in the 58th minute.

This time, Lancashire was able to hook the ball forward and released McGoldrick down the right flank for him to strike the post with a diagonal shot, although the flag had already been raised for a marginal off-side.

Poortvliet then shuffled his pack bringing off Lee Holmes and sending on Kayne McLaggon for his first team debut, and Paterson for Gillett in an attempt to get the goals flowing.

Sturrock soon followed suit, with Craig Noone, who had been physically sick at half-time on his full debut, making way for Jamie Mackie and Gallagher making way for MacLean a few minutes later.

Matt Paterson had a god effort blocked and put behind by Chris Barker in the 72nd minute, before Davis was forced to dive backwards spectacularly to tip-over late shot from Mackie, before Lancashire headed wide from a corner.

In an unorthodox late move, Poortvliet removed the cramp-ridden Ryan Smith with three minutes of normal time remaining and sent on Alex Pearce to play up-front in the hope that the on-loan Reading defender could nick a late header, which sadly wasn't to be the case.

Full-Time: Plymouth Argyle 2-0 Southampton

Plymouth Argyle: Larrieu, McNamee, Cathcart, Seip, Barker, Clark, Summerfield, Duguid, Noone (Mackie, 66) Fallon, Gallagher (MacLean, 71) Subs: Timar, Puncheon, Folly

Saints: Davis, James, Lancashire, Cork, Skacel, Gillett (Paterson, 58), Gobern, Smith (Pearce, 87), Holmes (McLaggon, 58), Surman, McGoldrick. Subs: Forecast, Mills.

Referee: Mr R. East

Attendance: 15,157