SOUTHAMPTON 5 (Surman 10, 80, 90; Jones 47, 73 P)
BARNSLEY 2 (Nardiello 2, Ferenczi 69)

DANIEL Nardiello went from hero to villain after netting the opening goal and then being sent off as the Reds fell apart following an outrageous second half penalty.

Reds boss Simon Davey rang the changes as he looked to find a winning formula in the imposing St Mary's Stadium with debuts for Lewin Nyatanga and Istvan Ferenczi while Paul Heckingbottom, Daniel Nardiello and Sam Togwell came back into the side. Peter Rajczi, Grant McCann, Marc Richards, Robert Atkinson and Adam Eckersley missed out.

Barnsley grabbed a sensational opening goal inside the first two minutes as Brian Howard picked out a great pass through the heart of the Saints defence to send Nardiello clean through. Nardiello made no mistake slotting the ball home although the striker looked a mile offside when he broke beyond the Southampton defence.

At the other end Paul Reid had to be alert to hack the ball clear just two minutes later after Nick Colgan had done well to parry Gareth Bale's free kick.

The Reds came again on eight minutes with Togwell's long throw causing problems in the Saints area. The ball eventually fell to Dwayne Mattis but the midfielder could not get his first time shot on target under pressure.

Again the action swung to the other end of the field and Bale's cross almost caught the Reds napping. Jermaine Wright pounced on the loose ball but his shot cannoned away for a corner.

The Reds lead lasted all of eight minutes as Barnsley struggled to deal with a corner from the left. The ball fell nicely for Andrew Surman on the edge of the area and the midfielder lashed his effort through a crowd of players and into the back of the net.

Although rocked on their heels by the Saints equaliser, Barnsley responded well with Nardiello bringing the best from Kelvin Davis on 14 minutes when he let fly from the edge of the area.

Southampton should have been in front a minute later as Bale again caused problems with a cross from the left but Marek Saganowski somehow managed to head wide from just four yards out.

Bale again showed why so many big teams are prepared to part with millions for him on 24 minutes as he broke down the left flank before bringing a fine low save from Colgan.

A clumsy foul on Nardiello by Alexander Ostlund then gave Martin Devaney a great chance to put pressure on the Saints defence on the half hour. The winger swung a fine free kick across the face of goal but somehow that ball evaded Paul Reid at tha back post.

Although Ostlund managed to get away with kicking Nardiello up in the air, the same could not be said for the Reds striker, who was cautioned on 35 minutes for a harmless looking challenge on the Saints full back. From the free kick Kenwyne Jones really should have put Saints into the lead but he could only shoot straight at Colgan from six yards.

Jones then missed another sitter a minute later as he found himself in acres of space at the far post after Saganowski had flicked on Bale's cross but the striker somehow managed to head over the bar.

Bale's big chance finally came on 41 minutes after Togwell had tripped Skacel 25 yards out but the youngster fluffed his lines and could only put his free kick straight into the wall.

A slip by Nardiello gave Saints a great chance just a minute after the restart as Skacel was able to lash the ball across the face of goal but Jones just could not get a touch.

Jones was in the right place again a minute later as he managed to steal a yard on Nyatanga at the back post to get his head to Skacel's cross and this time the striker gave Colgan no chance from six yards.

Wright almost put the game beyond the Reds on 48 minutes as he broke through the middle of the park before hammering a shot an inch wide of Colgan's left hand post. Surman then managed to get into the area a minute later but shot straight at Colgan from 18 yards under pressure from Heckingbottom.

Ostlund was finally booked on 55 minutes after his high and clumsy challenge left Howard in a heap on the turf.

Skacel almost grabbed a third for the home side on 67 minutes as he drilled the ball an inch wide of the post from 20 yards after the Reds had struggled to clear their lines.

Hungarian striker Ferenczi made himself a hero on 69 minutes with an outstanding header from Togwell's cross to level things. The big frontman managed to find a yard of space in the six yard box and powered Togwell's neat centre into the back of the net to mark his full debut with a goal.

Southampton should have been back in front just a minute later as Jones smashed the ball against the upright from inside the six yard box. It eventually bounced through to John Viafara, who somehow put the ball over the bar with the goal gaping.

The game turned on its head on 72 minutes as Ferenczi challenged for the ball with Viafara in the area. Although the referee gave a corner, his assistant, who was 30 yards away, waved his flag in the air furiously and the home side were awarded an outrageous penalty even though there were no appeals from the Saints players or supporters.Jones tucked away the spot kick and in the melee that followed Reds Assistant Manager Ryan Kidd was sent to the stands for protesting against what was a ridiculous decision.

To make things even worst, Nardiello then lost his cool in a challenge with Claus Lundekvam and received his second yellow card a minute later to give his side a mountain to climb.

Jones could have completed his hat trick on 76 minutes as he danced his way past Paul Reid before smashing the ball straight at Colgan from a tight angle.

Saints made the extra man count on 80 minutes as Bradley Wright Phillips was able to take his time and pick out Surman on the edge of the area and the midfielder again found the right finish to plant the ball into the back of the net.

Wright brought the very best from Colgan on 89 minutes after skipping away from substitute Ritchie Jones before curling an effort towards the top corner. Colgan flung himself to the left to make an outstanding save.

A bad second half suddenly got even worse in stoppage time as Howard, who was returning to his former club for the first time, inexplicably handled the ball in the area. A second penalty was awarded and this time there was no doubt about it. Surman grabbed his hat trick from the spot with a coolly taken penalty.

SOUTHAMPTON: Davis, Ostlund, Lundekvam, Baird, Bale, Surman (Belmaldi 81), Wright, Viafara, Skacel, Jones (Rasiak 85), Saganowski (Wright-Phillips 77).
Subs: Bialkowski, Pele.

BARNSLEY: Colgan, Hassell, Heckingbottom, P. Reid, Nyatanga, Togwell, Ferenczi (Richards 82), Howard, Nardiello (OFF 74), Devaney (Jones 79), Mattis (K. Reid 65).
Subs: Lucas, Austin.