On-loan Manchester United midfielder Lee Martin scored the first senior goal of his career to seal Stoke's win over visiting Southampton.

Their victory was the Potters' first in Coca-Cola Championship action at the Britannia Stadium since before the turn of the year.

But it was Saints who had opened the scoring, through Marek Saganowski, before Jonathan Fortune - another player on loan, this time from Charlton - equalised to ensure a 1-1 half-time score.

Darel Russell fired in the first shot of the afternoon with four minutes on the clock, but the Potters midfielder dragged wide from the edge of the penalty box.

Ten minutes later Saints midfielder Jermaine Wright, who had needed treatment after an aerial challenge with Salif Diao, was replaced by Pedro Pele.

It was Southampton's second enforced change of the afternoon, as Djamal Belmadi had broken down in the warm-up, meaning Danny Guthrie started instead.

Southampton took the lead in the 17th minute when City goalkeeper Steve Simonsen failed to deal with a long-range effort from Chris Baird and could only palm the ball to the feet of Saganowski who netted from an acute angle.

Liam Lawrence went close for Stoke moments later but his half-volley went inches wide, ahead of Martin forcing Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davis into a one-handed save.

Grzegorz Rasiak and Saganowski, on loan from Troyes, combined on the half hour but the latter blazed over the crossbar.

Then, with 10 minutes to the break, a right-wing corner taken by Liam Lawrence was headed on by Danny Higginbotham and Fortune, at the back post, powered home the equaliser.

Stoke started the second half on the attack through Martin although momentum was lost when play was halted to allow treatment for Jhon Viafara who sustained a head injury after clashing with Russell.

Higginbotham's flashing header from another Lawrence corner went narrowly wide of the Southampton goal before Lancashire official Neil Swarbrick waved away penalty appeals from Andrew Surman who then went nose to nose with Stoke defender Carl Hoefkens.

On the hour, Lawrence could only produce a weak chip from the edge of the Saints penalty box while team-mate Mamady Sidibe fared little better as successive efforts in the 65th minute rebounded from defenders' legs.

In the 68th minute, Potters boss Tony Pulis swapped substitute Martin Paterson for Jon Parkin, the striker making his debut after joining on loan from Hull, before Bradley Wright-Phillips replaced Rasiak.

But Saints soon found themselves chasing the game when, in the 74th minute, Diao split the defence to set free Martin who scored from close range.

Viafara tested Simonsen with a low drive shortly afterwards.

Teams

Stoke Simonsen, Hoefkens, Fortune, Higginbotham, Griffin,Lawrence (Rooney 87), Diao, Russell, Martin (Eustace 76),Sidibe, Parkin (Paterson 67).

Subs Not Used: Zakuani, Hoult.

Booked: Parkin, Diao, Griffin.

Goals: Fortune 34, Martin 72.

Southampton Davis, Baird, Lundekvam, Powell, Bale,Guthrie (Skacel 78), Viafara, Wright (Pele 13), Surman,Saganowski, Rasiak (Wright-Phillips 70).

Subs Not Used: Bialkowski, Best.

Booked: Powell, Viafara, Bale.

Goals: Saganowski 17.

Att: 13,404

Ref: N Swarbrick (Lancashire).