James Beattie scored twice to take his tally to 11 in the last eight matches as Birmingham were brushed aside at St Mary's.

Beattie struck with a penalty in the 58th minute and then scored from 10 yards with eight minutes remaining to seal a competent Southampton win which leaves them unbeaten at home.

Birmingham badly missed the combative qualities of the suspended Robbie Savage in midfield and rarely posed a problem for Paul Jones, deputising in the Southampton goal for the injured Antti Niemi.

Birmingham struggled in attack and were overwhelmed in midfield where Republic of Ireland international midfield player Rory Delap was outstanding.

Birmingham can thank goalkeeper Nico Vaesen for keeping them in the match until the 58th minute.

In the sixth minute Vaesen somehow managed to block a goal-bound shot from Anders Svensson with his legs and just before half-time was out quickly to do the same when Brett Ormerod bore down on goal.

In addition Damien Johnson, standing in for Savage, headed off the line from Michael Svensson in the 37th minute.

In reply there was a half-chance for Clinton Morrison after Stern John had created a gap but it was a rare moment of concern for the Southampton defence.

Southampton took the lead in the 58th minute when Birmingham defender Darren Purse stuck out an arm to block a centre from Wayne Bridge on the left when there was no opposition player near him.

Beattie stepped up to clinically convert the spot-kick and only then did Birmingham rally.

The Blues forced a series of corners in a desperate search for an equaliser and sent on Darren Carter in place of Johnson in the 70th minute.

But in the 82nd minute substitute Jo Tessem broke down the right and his low centre was touched on by Ormerod for an unmarked Beattie to score a simple second from 10 yards.

Birmingham had Johnson and Morrison booked for dissent after strong Birmingham appeals for a penalty for handball had been rejected by referee Jeff Winter and Oliver Tebily shot narrowly wide as Southampton's defence creaked for the first time.

Delap marred an otherwise impeccable midfield display with a first half booking but Southampton did not miss the influential Chris Marsden who was obliged to sit out the match against his old club through a one-match suspension.

Morrison and John had little chance to break down a solid Southampton defence marshalled by Michael Svensson but Morrison shot across the face of the goal in the fourth minute after a free kick from Johnson had deceived the Southampton defence.

Southampton had plenty of other chances to have completed an even more emphatic win, not least when Anders Svensson bent a shot narrowly past the post with Vaesen to beat and then, after breaking clear, the same player could only drill a shot straight at the goalkeeper with Ormerod free in the centre.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce sent on Jovan Kirovski and Craig Fagan in place of Aliou Cisse and Bryan Hughes but it made little difference as Southampton held on to complete their fifth home win of the season and their third win home and away in succession.

Teams:

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Lundekvam, Michael Svensson, Bridge, Fernandes (Telfer 88), Oakley, Anders Svensson, Delap, Beattie, Ormerod (Tessem 79).

Subs Not Used: Blayney, Williams, Delgado.

Goals: Beattie 60 pen, 83.

Birmingham: Vaesen, Kenna, Purse, Tebily, Cunningham, Damien Johnson (Carter 71), Cisse (Fagan 81), Hughes (Kirovski 81), Lazaridis, Morrison, John.

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Hutchinson.

Booked: Damien Johnson, Morrison.

Att: 31,132

Ref: J Winter (Cleveland).