SOUTHAMPTON 2 (Saganowski 45, Idiakez 90)
BARNSLEY 3 (McCann 27, 39; Devaney 90)

SUPERSUB Martin Devaney netted a last-gasp winner as the Reds battled hard to take a well-earned three points from a cracker at the St Mary's Stadium.

Reds manager Simon Davey made one change to the side that performed so well at Stoke with Lewin Nyatanga coming into the starting eleven to replace injury victim Rob Kozluk. Former Southampton youngster Brian Howard skippered the side on his return to the St Mary's Stadium but there was no place for Marciano Van Homoet, Rohan Ricketts, Andy Johnson, Dwayne Mattis or Kim Christensen.

Saints made four changes with Christian Dailly, Gregory Vignal, Marek Saganowski and Adam Hammill all coming into the side. Nathan Dyer, Rudi Skacel, Grzegorz Rasiak and Chris Makin all missed out.

Barnsley crafted the first opening of the game on three minutes when Istvan Ferenczi did well to knock the ball down to Howard on the edge of the area. The midfielder took a touch and fired goalward but his effort was a foot or so over the bar.

Southampton pressed forward and forced a succession of corners but the Reds defence stood firm and put their bodies and heads on the line to clear the danger early on.

Andrew Surman almost burst into the area on eleven minutes but found Dennis Souza in outstanding form as the big Brazilian pulled out a fine tackle to deny the midfielder a clear route on goal.

John Viafara was then lucky to escape a caution on 14 minutes after he pushed Souza in the chest but managed to get away with just a warning.

The Reds were in on goal at the other end just seconds later as Jamal Campbell-Ryce did well to play Anderson De Silva into space but the Brazilian lashed his shot well side of the target with only Kelvin Davis to beat.

Southampton finally had a sight of goal on 18 minutes as Bradley Wright-Phillips headed straight at Heinz Muller from Gregory Vignal's free kick.

Ferenczi was through on goal on 20 minutes as he raced clear onto Kayode Odejayi's pass but the big Hungarian was denied by a debateable offside flag although Davis did well to smother the danger.

Southampton had to be on their guard again five minutes later as De Silva whipped in a decent free kick from the left hand side but again the official denied the Reds an opportunity.

Barnsley had a great shout for a penalty waved away on 26 minutes as Ferenczi's flick from Dominik Werling's cross bounced awkwardly and struck Dailly on the arm but the referee gave nothing.

Wayne Thomas' clumsy challenge on Odejayi gave the Reds another shooting chance from distance on 27 minutes. This time Grant McCann surprised everybody and fired an outstanding free kick over the wall and into the far top corner.

The home side almost got it right on 34 minutes as Adam Hammill's corss found Wright-Phillips in the middle and the Reds had to thank the woodwork as the striker's header bounced to safety.

Marek Saganowski then forced Muller into a fine save a minute later after twisting and turning his way into a shooting position.

Barnsley responded with Ferenczi bringing a save from Davis on 36 minutes with a looping header from Werling's cross. Another quick break orchestrated by McCann gave Campbell-Ryce a chance on 38 minutes but the winger saw his goalbound shot cannon away off a defender.

A foul on Howard on the edge of the area gave McCann the opportunity to test his shooting boots again on 39 minutes. The Northern Ireland international got his free kick spot on again and planted the ball past Davis and into the top corner.

The Reds rode their luck again on 41 minutes when Hammill fired a shot over Muller from 25 yards but his effort struck the post and bounced away to safety.

The Saints pulled one back deep in stoppage time when Saganowski took advantage of a fortunate bounce in the area before planting a shot past Muller from 18 yards.

Barnsley were not really knocked out of their stride by Southampton's late, late goal in the first half and began the second period well with Campbell-Ryce shooting wide on 50 minutes.

Another decision, perhaps unsurprisingly, went Southampton's way on 55 minutes after the referee allowed play to go on despite Campbell-Ryce being left poleaxed by Vignal's flailing elbow. Thankfully nothing came of the Saints attack much to the relief of an incensed Simon Davey on the touchline.

Southampton suddenly were well on top and Hammill had Muller guessing on 58 minutes as he sent a shot in from distance but the big German got his angles spot on and watched the ball sail over. A minute later Muller had to be alert to smother Viafara's low shot. Viafara got in on goal again on 60 minutes as the Saints had the benefit of another harsh refereeing decision to play a quick free kick into the danger area. This time Viafara blazed over the bar under pressure.

Southampton went even closer on 63 minutes after Hammill's cross somehow found its way to Stern John inside the six yard box but the striker managed to shoot wide with the goal gaping. The referee gave Southampton another helping hand on 64 minutes after Souza appeared to take the ball cleanly from Viafara. The official gave Saints a free kick but Yousef Safri could only shoot straight at Muller from 20 yards out.

Barnsley's afternoon took a turn for the worse on 70 minutes and again it was aided by a very debateable refereeing decision that favoured the home side. This time Werling went in hard to win the ball from Viafara only for the official to give a free kick and, to make matters worse, the referee then showed Werling a second yellow card to end his game early. Nothing came from the free kick as Southampton wasted another opportunity.

Southampton pressed again and Muller had to be at his very, very best to turn Surman's shot over the bar on 74 minutes. Hammill was then inches away from a levelled on 76 minutes as he clipped the ball in from the left but it drifted just wide of the far post.

Against all the odds the Reds almost grabbed a third on 77 minutes as Odejayi combined well with Martin Devaney but the pair were denied by an offside flag.

Odejayi then managed to free Howard in the area on 80 minutes but the midfielder was denied a memorable goal by Dailly's fine challenge. From De Silva's corner Howard forced Davis into a fine save with a volley from 18 yards.

Southampton threw everything at the Reds in a desperate attack and Muller again had to be on top form on 83 minutes to grab Surman's low shot. A minute later Rasiak saw a header cannon away off Souza and over the bar.

John was then a foot away from testing Muller on 84 minutes as he met Vignal's cross but his header flew wide of the goal. Rasiak was next to try his luck from distance on 85 minutes but the big frontman could only drag his shot wide. Rasiak went even closer wide a looping header from Hammill's cross on 86 minutes and beat Muller but his effort dropped the wrong side of the post for the Saints hitman.

The referee gave Southampton another lifeline when he decided that there would be an outrageous six minutes added time at the end of the game. It was in the second of these that Saints drew level as John's fortuitous cross fell to Inigo Idiakez, who planted the ball past Muller from 18 yards.

Barnsley responded magnificently and Devaney broke quickly into the area before testing Davis. The Saints keeper could only parry the ball and Devaney was quickly on hand to head into the back of the net from six yards.

SOUTHAMPTON: Davis, Wright (Idiakez 81), Thomas, Dailly, Vignal, Hammill, Viafara, Safri, Surman, Saganowski (Rasiak 69), Wright-Phillips (John 45).
Subs: Bialkowski, Makin.

BARNSLEY: Muller, Foster, Souza, Nyatanga, Werling, Campbell-Ryce (Devaney 74), Howard, De Silva (Reid 90), McCann, Ferenczi (Togwell 66), Odejayi.
Subs: Colgan, Mostto.