A season high crowd of 30,890 at St. Mary's witnessed Saints defeat Exeter 3-1 in League One on Boxing Day.

Another fine home performance saw Alan Pardew's side run out fairly comfortable winners against the ten men of Exeter who put in a valiant second half display despite their numerical disadvantage.

The visitors had Troy Archibald-Henville sent off in the first half, but pulled a goal back in the second period to set up a competitive last 20 minutes or so during which time Papa Waigo wrapped up the win with a well taken third for Saints.

Earlier strikes from defenders Lloyd James and Neal Trotman put the hosts on their way going into half time before an altogether closer encounter in the second period.

Saints: Bialkowski, James, Trotman, Perry, Harding, Antonio, Hammond, Schneiderlin, Lallana (Mills 60) (Wotton 83), Lambert, Connolly (Papa Waigo 75). Subs (not used): Davis, Thomas, Martin, Gobern.

Exeter: Jones, Tully, Duffy (Dunne 81), Golbourne, Seabourne, Taylor, Harley, Russell (Cozic 60), Stewart (Fleetwood 60), Stansfield, Archibald-Henville. Subs (not used): Marriott, Edwards, Logan, Sercombe.

Referee: Mr. G. Horwood (Bedfordshire)

Attendance: 30, 890 (including 1,829 away)

Alan Pardew made three changes to the side that started at Leeds the previous weekend. Lloyd James reverted to a right back role with loanee Neal Trotman slotting into the centre alongside Chris Perry. Michail Antonio began on the right of midfield interchanging with Adam Lallana on the left.

Exeter got proceedings underway defending the Northam End on their first visit to St. Mary's on a cool winter's day inside the stadium.

The Grecians started brightly with front pairing Marcus Stewart and Adam Stansfield going in search of an early breakthrough but to no avail.

Saints took a little while to find their rhythm as Antonio and Lallana briefly switched flanks to try and spark some attacks before Alan Pardew's side produced the opening goal of the game in the 14th minute.

Rickie Lambert collected the ball inside the visitors' half and sprayed it out to the right where right back Lloyd James was waiting. The Welshman cut inside and hit an opportunist strike from the edge of the area which took a deflection off a defender that wrong footed Paul Jones in City's net and crossed the line for his first professional goal.

A heavy rainfall then ensued for the next ten minutes or so as the hosts stepped up their efforts for another goal. A well worked short corner from Lallana and James saw the latter supply an inch perfect ball for David Connolly to spring a header on to which came back off the crossbar from six yards out. Morgan Schneiderlin's speculative attempt moments later signalled the end of the briefly treacherous weather conditions on 25 minutes.

Five minutes later, Saints doubled their advantage with James playing another key role as he delivered a free-kick from the right into the middle of the area where Neal Trotman powerfully met the cross with his head to find the top corner to make it 2-0.

Bartosz Bialkowski was twice called into action shortly afterwards as he was alert to keep out a deflection off Chris Perry at his near post, before he saved low from Ryan Harley's drive 20 yards out.

As play entered the last ten minutes a brief spell of pressure from Exeter preceded a decision that hampered their chances of taking anything from the game when Troy Archibald-Henville was dismissed for an ill timed challenge on Schneiderlin. The Frenchman, who had just returned to action from a hamstring injury required some treatment just before the half's end but was fit enough to carry on as the match official brought the first 45 minutes to a close.

Half Time: Saints 2-0 Exeter City

Saints continued to put on a confident display going forward as Alan Pardew's side made the visitors work hard at the back. A free-kick over 30 yards out in much the same position that Lambert scored from in the last home league game was presented the home side's way seven minutes into the new half. The Club's leading marksman stepped up once more, but saw his shot go wide of Jones' goal.

Connolly and Lambert sought out opportunities in the Grecians' area as Saints tried to extend their lead.

On the hour mark both sides made substitutions as Lallana made way for Joseph Mills and Exeter introduced Bertrand Cozic and Stuart Fleetwood for Russell and Stewart.

Mills showed plenty of early exuberance as he looked to make the most of his return to action. He linked up with Connolly and shot wide from the left.

On 68 minutes however, the ten men gave Saints a scare as they pulled goal back. A corner from the left was met at the far post by Grecians captain Matthew Taylor, who headed through the mass of bodies into the opposite corner to give Paul Tisdale's side hope.

Two minutes later, Saints went back on the offensive with Connolly again going close as he stretched his head on to James' cross and narrowly missed the far post with a downward header.

With quarter of an hour left to play, Alan Pardew withdrew Connolly for Papa Waigo with Monday's trip to Colchester perhaps on his mind.

Chris Perry went into referee Mr. Horwood's notebook for a late challenge on Fleetwood as the visitors continued to press with a sterling performance from the depleted City side. Striker Fleetwood was again involved as he blazed over from 25 yards at the end of another decent Grecians move.

Paul Wotton renewed rivalries with the Devonshire outfit as the former Plymouth Argyle captain replaced fellow substitute Joseph Mills for the last eight minutes or so and in that time Saints wrapped up the three points.

A brilliantly timed pass from Lambert set substitute Papa Waigo through on goal and the Fiorentina loanee kept his cool and side-footed past Jones into the bottom right corner at the Chapel End for his seventh goal of the campaign.

Lambert almost put the icing on the cake was a delicious looking strike in the last minute of stoppage time which dinked the crossbar, but Saints were comfortable enough winners in the end.

Full Time: Saints 3-1 Exeter City