Michail Antonio's first league goal for Saints earned a narrow win over Charlton at St. Mary's.

The midfielder's fifth strike of the campaign came on 34 minutes and it was backed up by a resilient performance at the other end, which provided another welcome clean sheet.

In a fiercely competitive encounter, the hosts proved their mettle against another side in the top six, sending out a clear message to the teams still chasing a play-off place that the fight is on.

Saints: Davis, Otsemobor, Fonte, Seaborne, Harding, Puncheon, Hammond, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Antonio (Barnard 67), Lambert (Wotton 88). Subs (not used): Bialkowski, James, Perry, Connolly, Papa Waigo.

Charlton: Randolph, Richardson, Dailly, S. Sodje, Borrowdale, Bailey, Semedo (Mooney 64), Racon, Sam, Reid (Shelvey 78), Forster (A.Sodje 64). Subs (not used): Warner, Llera, Shelvey, Wagstaff, Solly.

Referee: Mr. G. Hegley (Hertfordshire)

Attendance: 23,061 (including 1,457 away)

Radhi Jaidi missed out with a hamstring injury so Dan Seaborne deputised alongside José Fonte in the centre of defence.

Michail Antonio started on the right with Jason Puncheon pushed into an advance role behind Rickie Lambert in attack. Lee Barnard was joined on the bench by the returning David Connolly.

Charlton got things underway attacking the Chapel End in their changed strip of all blue with experienced front man Nicky Forster leading the Addicks' line. The striker who was at Reading with manager Alan Pardew almost got an early sight of goal inside the opening minute of action, but was flagged offside.

Jason Puncheon created the hosts' first opportunity by creating some space for himself on the left before firing over with a powerful strike.

In the seventh minute, Lambert drew his first save of the game from 'keeper Darren Randolph with a long range free-kick which the shot stopper caught low to his left at the near post.

At the other end moments later, Kelvin Davis produced a superb one handed save from close range to deny Charlton skipper Nicky Bailey's header, as the visitors opened the game up.

On the quarter hour mark Lambert and Lallana linked up with the former getting a shot away at the near post which was deflected out for a corner as Saints started to increase the pressure on the Addicks' back line.

A prolonged period of possession led to a volley from Morgan Schneiderlin which flew wide of the left post.
Puncheon delivered the next warning on 26 minutes when he collected Lambert's lay off and flashed a low shot towards goal which Randolph had to turn behind the post for a corner.

Saints got the reward their persistence had merited on 34 minutes when they got the solitary goal of the game on the back of a sweeping move forward.

Puncheon's run from Lambert's flick on bamboozled the Charlton defence before the tricky winger laid off a perfectly timed pass to Antonio who did the rest inside the area as he hit a firm strike which went in at the near post to give the hosts a deserved advantage.

Davis was alert to push Forster's strike away at his near post before Fonte cleared up, continuing his dominance at the back in the air and on the floor.

Five minutes before the break Saints should have been awarded a penalty. Antonio's determination set Puncheon through on goal, and the former Plymouth man was pushed to the ground by Christian Dailly but a delay in going to ground seemed to make up referee's Grant Hegley's mind as the winger tried to stay on his feet.

The hosts were thankful to Davis again late on in the half however, as he kept out Bailey's header from a corner inside the six yard box.
Dean Hammond then went into the book for a foul on Kyel Reid as the first half came to a close.

Half Time: Saints 1-0 Charlton

Saints began the second 45 on the front foot and won an early corner which was played short to Schneiderlin who picked out Lambert. However, the forward's on target header, was kept out by Sam Sodje who threw himself in the way of the goal bound effort.

Charlton forced another strong save from Davis on 56 when Jose Semedo sliced the ball into Bailey's path once more, but again the midfielder was kept out at the near post as his firm shot was pushed away.

The match swung from end to end with Puncheon denied again with a cross shot which nearly fell invitingly for Antonio at the far post on its way out for a corner, but the set-piece came to nothing.

The visitors won two corners of their own in quick succession before making a double switch in attack with Forster replaced by Akpo Sodje and David Mooney coming on for Jose Semedo.

Sodje struck a tame first attempt at goal, before Saints made their first change of the game with the goal scorer Antonio being replaced by Lee Barnard as both sides continued to match each other in formation.

At the end of another surge forward on 70, Saints went close again as Schneiderlin's shot was blocked before Hammond curled a shot just past the post. Lambert went just as close moments later as the Addicks' goal survived once more.

Barnard squeezed a further effort in on the turn which Randolph held and then Phil Parkinson made his last change available as he brought Jonjo Shelvey on for Kyel Reid.

A tense but high tempo finale in the last ten minutes saw few clear chances from either side as Saints kept the ball well, bringing on Paul Wotton for Lambert to see out the game.

Three minutes were added on for stoppages during which time Charlton threw everything at the hosts as 'keeper Randolph joined in for two attacks, but the Addicks couldn't force a way through as Saints earned what could turn out to be a significant win at the start of the run-in.

Full Time: Saints 1-0 Charlton