Southampton began life after Harry Redknapp by ending a five-match winless run
thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Luton in the Coca-Cola Championship at
St Mary's.
Teenager Theo Walcott enhanced his growing reputation with a stunning
first-half winner to condemn Luton to a sixth successive defeat on the road.
The 16-year-old, thrown into the first-team fray by Redknapp before the
manager's departure last week, lobbed goalkeeper Dean Brill from wide on the
left in the 23rd minute to register his fourth goal of the season.
Walcott has been attracting interest from several Barclays Premiership sides,
including champions Chelsea, and ended a five-game goal drought in style in an
otherwise quiet first half.
Luton have now gone 521 minutes since scoring on their travels and they failed
to really test Saints goalkeeper Antti Niemi.
Southampton had an early penalty appeal waved away by referee Lee Probert
after Neil McCann, restored to the starting line-up, was upended by Luton
captain Kevin Nicholls.
After a frantic opening 15 minutes, the home side had the first attempt at
goal, although Brill had all the time in the world to collect defender Darren
Powell's hooked effort.
The Hatters, who have lost their last five away matches, conjured up their
first effort three minutes later but, after jinking his way into the box, Paul
Underwood fired his shot wildly over before striker Steve Howard headed wide
from a corner.
Walcott's wonder strike opened the scoring and Southampton almost doubled
their lead in the 31st minute, Brill pulling off a fantastic reaction save after
Matt Oakley's free-kick eluded everyone in the box.
Poland international Kamil Kosowski, on loan from Kaiserslautern, then blazed
a decent chance over for Saints just before half-time.
Luton nearly levelled in first-half stoppage time but Rory Delap headed Chris
Coyne's overhead kick off the line after Niemi had spilled the ball.
Howard, who has scored just one goal in his last seven appearances, headed a
decent opportunity over the bar inside the first minute of the second half
Walcott had a glorious chance to grab a second in the 56th minute after
sprinting clear on goal, but Brill managed to keep out his weak shot.
Southampton almost went 2-0 up in the 67th minute when McCann ran half the
length of the pitch before seeing his shot deflected just wide by Markus
Heikkinen.
Luton should have levelled with eight minutes left when Howard poorly headed
over from Nicholls' quickly-taken free-kick while Underwood lashed a shot over
the crossbar.
Southampton had Delap sent off a minute from time for a second bookable
offence.
Teams
Southampton Niemi, Delap, Kenton, Powell, Higginbotham,
McCann, Prutton, Oakley, Kosowski (Baird 72),
Walcott (Best 85), Jones (Cranie 90).
Subs Not Used: Smith, Ormerod.
Sent Off: Delap (90).
Booked: Delap, Niemi.
Goals: Walcott 23.
Luton Brill, Foley, Coyne, Underwood, Heikkinen,
Edwards (Holmes 69), Nicholls, Robinson, Brkovic,
Showunmi (Vine 60), Howard.
Subs Not Used: Beckwith, Barnett, Feeney.
Booked: Heikkinen, Nicholls, Howard.
Att: 19,086
Ref: L Probert (Gloucestershire).
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