Kevin Phillips scored his 27th goal of the season as he returned to haunt the club who told him he would not make the grade.

The England striker crashed home a penalty four minutes from time to seal victory for Sunderland at The Dell.

Niall Quinn had put Peter Reid's men ahead when he punished sloppy Saints defending with a delightful first-half lob.

But it was Phillips who made the points safe from the spot after Kevin Kilbane had been felled by Claus Lundekvam.

Half-time substitute Matt Le Tissier pulled one back for Glenn Hoddle's team with a last-minute penalty, but Phillips' strike and a series of fine saves from Thomas Sorensen sealed a deserved win for the visitors.

All eyes had been on Phillips, returning for the first time to the club who released him as a teenager.

The England forward was a right-back in his days as a Saints trainee, cleaning the boots of Alan Shearer, but few were willing to bet against him scoring at The Dell after a prolific first season in the Premiership.

It was Phillips' evergreen strike partner Quinn who bagged the crucial first goal for the visitors.

But Phillips was always a danger. He crashed a fierce shot into the side-netting early in the second half, after Quinn had sent him racing clear of the defence.

Wayne Bridge cleared his header from beneath the crossbar after a second-half corner.

Saints, unusually clear of relegation trouble going into April, had started brightly.

Kevin Davies tested Sorensen twice in the opening five minutes. The big striker muscled his way past Jody Craddock on the edge of the box and struck a crisp drive which the Danish goalkeeper kept out.

The Yorkshireman caused more problems for the Sunderland defence when he glanced a Matt Oakley long throw goalwards, but again Sorensen was alert to save at his near post.

Sunderland broke the deadlock courtesy of some sloppy Saints defending when Alex Rae delivered a cross from the right to find Quinn alone in the penalty area.

The big Irishman controlled the ball expertly and lifted the perfect lob over Paul Jones and into the net.

Quinn's goal knocked the stuffing out of Southampton, who struggled to get back into the game before the break with Rae and Eric Roy dominating the centre of the field.

Rae twice tried his luck from distance but struck the ball sweetly straight at Jones.

Marian Pahars lifted spirits at a rainy Dell in first-half stoppage time. His electric pace sent him flying down the Southampton left, and a delicious turn left Nicky Summerbee for dead.

The Latvian flashed a cross into the goalmouth. But Jo Tessem, racing into the box, could not get a touch as the ball drifted beyond the far post.

Phillips might have made doubled the lead when he was found by Quinn, but for once his sights were out.

Energetic midfield duo Rae and Roy both peppered the Saints goal with long-range efforts after the break, keeping Neil Moss - on at half-time for Jones - on his toes.

Pahars squandered a golden chance to haul the Saints back on level terms in the 52nd minute.

Chris Marsden found the Latvian in front of goal with a clever square pass. But first Sorensen, with a brave low block, and then Craddock, with a goalline clearance, protected the lead.

Sunderland also continued to create chances in a pulsating second half.

Bridge cleared Phillips' header after another effort from Rae had been blocked, and second-half substitute Michael Gray was denied by the diving Moss.

Saints launched a late rally. Sorensen saved from Tahar El Khalej, Le Tissier and Hassan Kachloul - but Phillips' 86th-minute penalty looked to have killed off the challenge.

Le Tissier then struck from the spot too after Paul Durkin spotted a handball in a goalmouth melee.

But it was too little too late.

Teams:

Southampton: Jones (Moss 46), Dodd, Richards, Lundekvam, El Khalej, Tessem (Kachloul 81), Oakley (Le Tissier 46), Marsden, Bridge, Pahars, Davies.

Subs Not Used: Benali, Soltvedt.

Booked: Richards.

Goals: Le Tissier 89 pen.

Sunderland: Sorensen, Makin, Holloway, Craddock, Williams, Roy, Summerbee (Gray 46), Rae, Kilbane, Quinn, Phillips.

Subs Not Used: McCartney, Dichio, Nunez, Marriott.

Booked: Roy.

Goals: Quinn 14, Phillips 86 pen.

Att: 15,245

Ref: P Durkin (Dorset).