Saints failed to hit the target on their travels as they slumped to a 1-0 away defeat to Swindon as at the County Ground...

Swindon Town: Lucas, Douglas, Greer, McGovern, Timlin, McNamee (Macklin, 85), Morrison, Amankwaah, Jean-Francois, Paynter, Obadeyi (Kennedy, 90). Subs: Smith, Cuthbert, Easton, O'Brien, Thompson.

Saints: Davis, James, Thomas, Lancashire (Rasiak 90), Harding, Schneiderlin, Wotton (Gobern 81), Mellis, Lallana, Paterson (Saganowski 81), Lambert. Subs: Bialkowski, Perry, Gillett, Thomson.

Referee: Mr Steve Cook (Surrey)

Attendance: 11,673

With over 3,000 Southampton fans in attendance, there was plenty of vocal support for the visitors as the team took to the field ahead of kick-off.

Alan Pardew made three changes as he freshened his side up in the wake of Saturday's defeat to Hudderfield, with new arrival Jacob Mellis making his first Saints start.

Young striker Matthew Paterson was also preferred to Grzegorz Rasiak up-front, with Olly Lancashire also drafted in for Chris Perry in the centre of defence.

Robins' boss Danny Wilson gave a home debut to Bolton Wanderers loanee Temitope Obadayi to add pace to their attack.

The hosts took an early lead in the ninth minute with the first set-play of the match, when Dan Harding conceded a corner on the left and John-Paul McGovern's delivery was powerfully headed home at the far post by Sean MORRISON.

Alan Pardew's men then escaped another scare just before the quarter hour mark as McNamee threatened the Saints defence again, but Lancashire and Thomas combined well to clear the danger.

Swindon tried to repeat their earlier achivement a minute later as McGovern's identical corner was met at the far post by another Swindon head, but this time Paul Wotton created a barrier to prevent the Robins from further extending their lead.

Lloyd James played a quick one-two with Rickie Lambert in the 20th minute as he took a throw-in by the right corner flag, and his high ball into the box was met by the head of Lallana, but lacked enough power to trouble David Lucas in the Swindon goal.

The home side broke free again two minutes later through Kevin Amankwaah, but the former-Yeovil man was closed down well by Lancashire who put the ball out for another corner on the right.

This time, Saints comfortably dealt with the danger, but Matt Paterson was left needing treatment behind the goal after coming off second best as he challenged for the ball.

Saints' best chance of the opening spell came in the 25th minute as an error at the back by Swindon allowed Lambert through on goal.

The new Saints signing seized his chance to try to lob the ball over the head of the 'keeper, but Lucas did well to recover his position and gathered at the second attempt.

Anthony McNamee tried to impress the County Ground faithful with some step-overs on the right touchline, but his eventual cross into the box was poor and was easily headed up-field by Thomas on 31 minutes.

Saints pushed forward as play then switch to the opposite end, with Mellis supplying Lallana in the centre, but the end shot was taken wide and to the right of goal by a late deflection.

Lallana then trotted across to deliver the corner kick, and Lancashire headed the ball back across for Thomas whose header sailed over the Robins' bar.

Kelvin Davis kept Saints in the game in the 39th minute with an amazing stop to deny Billy Payter's free header, after the Swindon man had lost his marker in the box.

The corner that followed evaded everyone in red and Saints breathed a sigh of relief as the ball was eventually cleared up-field.

With just minutes of the first half to go, a spell of Southampton persistence saw them work the ball back to Schneiderlin on the edge of the area.

The Frenchman took a touch and unleashed a low shot, but his effort flew well wide of the left hand post.

A solitary minute was added by the fourth official as Saints sent everyone up for a late corner, but Swindon headed clear and released Obadayi down the left flank as the half-time whistle blew.

Half-Time: Swindon Town 1-0 Southampton

Both sides kept faith with their starting elevens after the interval and Saints had an early foray forward in the 49th minute as Paterson broke away, before skewing his diagonal shot wide of the left hand post.

Swindon then took the threat to the visitors as Paynter's close range header was saved well by Davis who dropped quickly down to his left.

Matthew Paterson became the first name in the book on 52 minutes for a rash challenge on Jean-Francois, but the French defender was soon back on his feet.

Swindon almost doubled their advantage on 61 minutes when McGovern's corner from the left found its way out to Jonathan Douglas, whose quick fire shot was cleared off the line by Lloyd James.

Paynter then went close twice in the same minute as first an inswinging cross was taken off his head by Lancashire and Davis then pulled off another fine reaction stop to deny his second header from close range.

Saints fans had a glimmer of hope when their side were awarded a free-kick in the 71st minute in a dangerous position to the right of goal.

Lloyd James' inswinging ball made the home 'keeper sweat as he attempted to push it clear, but his defence came to the rescue as they scrambled the ball clear.

Schneiderlin and Wotton were later booked in quick succession as Saints tried to match Swindon's physical approach, but referee Steve Cook was keeping a close eye on proceedings.

Swindon midfielder Jonathan Douglas lifted the ball onto the roof of the Saints net on 76 minutes as Town pressed hard for a second goal, but his ambitions were thwarted by his over-hit effort.

Pardew made a double substitution with ten minutes remaining, with Paterson and Wotton coming off and Saganowski and Gobern joining the fray.

It looked set to be an inspired move as Gobern found himself in space at the far post and almost burried a diagonal shot with his first touch of the game, but instead drilled the ball across the face of goal.

Pardew's men then won a free kick 25 yards out, but Lambert's well struck effort rose harmlessly over the bar as the seconds continued to tick down.

McNamee made way for Lloyd Macklin on 84 minutes as Swindon made their first switch and the departing winger received a warm round of applause from the home support.

With just a minute of normal time left to play, Lambert went even closer with another free-kick, but Lucas dived across well to his right to make the block, as the whistling from the home fans began.

Callum Kennedy was sent on for Obadayi on exactly 90 minutes, as an additional five minutes gave Saints fans hope of a late reprieve.

Those hopes were then lifed further as Rasiak replaced Lancashire as Saints went firmly on the offensive, although in the end it proved too little, too late.

A late Lallana run and shot won Saints a corner and they packed the box in large numbers, but their determined efforts were still not enough to break the Robins' resolve as the home fans celebrated a slender victory.

Full Time: Swindon Town 1-0 Southampton.