Derby need a miracle to prevent them joining east midlands rivals Leicester in the Football League next season after crazy defending sent them plummeting to a 2-0 defeat at Southampton on Saturday.

Matt Oakley's first goal of the season - a thunderbolt 28th-minute volley in acres of space - set Gordon Strachan's men up for their first victory in six games.

And more Sunday league defending by John Gregory's side allowed Marian Pahars the freedom of the St Mary's Stadium to lash home from 14 yards nine minutes into the second half.

Saints are now all but mathematically safe, while County's fourth defeat on the spin leaves them six points from safety with just four games left.

It could have been worse for the visitors today, as Chris Marsden missed a sitter and Brett Ormerod hit a post late on.

After a promising start by Derby, their invention petered out with Chris Riggott's shot against Paul Jones' crossbar their best effort.

Southampton's star striker James Beattie made his first start in three months today.

He suffered an ankle injury against Manchester United on January 13 and his full comeback was delayed until the clash with County after a niggling calf problem.

Only a magnificent point-blank save from Andy Oakes prevented the home side storming into the lead in the seventh minute.

Fabrizio Ravanelli was back defending but made a hash of Jason Dodd's diagonal cross and Oakes had to block Marsden's six-yard effort.

The rebound fell to Beattie, but he scuffed his shot and Derby defender Warren Barton scrambled the ball off the line.

It was a thrilling opening to the match on a gloriously sunny afternoon on the south coast and the Saints continued to threaten, with Riggott making a vital sliding tackle to poke the ball off Oakley's foot after a clever Beattie lay-off.

Oakley then needlessly lost possession, allowing the visitors their best chance so far.

Luciano Zavagno crossed from the left wing to the unmarked Ravanelli, who lifted his 14-yard header over Paul Jones' net.

But Oakley made amends for his error when he crashed home a sweet 16-yard strike for the opening goal in the 28th minute.

Dodd chipped into the box from the right flank and Oakley expertly lashed the bouncing ball into the far corner of Oakes' net.

Derby could have levelled when Paul Boertien's left-wing corner squeezed through to Danny Higginbotham, whose shot was gathered by Jones at the second attempt.

And Derby went even closer and smacked the ball against the woodwork in the 42nd minute.

Riggott met Ravanelli's pull-back with a thumping 10-yard shot that hit the bar and rebounded into the turf.

Christie was just unable to convert the follow-up as Beattie challenged him and looped the ball onto the roof of his net.

The County backline was totally to blame for Pahars' 54th-minute goal, which gave the home side a 2-0 advantage.

Delap hurled a left-wing throw down the line and - as the visitors' defence went AWOL - the Latvian raced into acres of space and cracked the ball inside Oakes' near post.

A rare moment of attacking inspiration from Derby saw Christie unleash a 20-yard half-volley that flew a foot wide of Jones' right-hand post.

But Saints forward Ormerod missed a far better opportunity with a quarter of an hour left.

Dodd crossed for the former Blackpool man, totally unmarked and five yards out, but he produced a finish more at home in the Second Division, totally mis-hitting the ball.

Ormerod produced a much better effort with eight minutes left, sending an angled drive against the Derby upright.

But Beattie was unable to control the rebound and scythed the ball over the top.

Derby's misery was complete when substitute Branko Strupar hit the side-netting from a great position 12 yards out.

Teams

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Williams, El Khalej, Bridge, Telfer, Delap, Oakley, Marsden (Tessem 48), Pahars (Ormerod 71), Beattie.

Subs Not Used: Moss, Svensson, Monk.

Booked: Williams.

Goals: Oakley 29, Pahars 55.

Derby: Oakes, Barton, Riggott, Higginbotham, Zavagno (Bolder 46), Kinkladze (Grenet 74), Lee, Boertien, Morris, Christie, Ravanelli (Strupar 56).

Subs Not Used: Foletti, Elliott.

Att: 29,263

Ref: S Bennett (Kent).