Kevin Phillips struck twice to maintain Sunderland's Premiership challenge.
The England international scored in both halves to confirm himself as the
leading top flight marksman with 18 goals.
But Phillips could only despair after Southampton substitute goalkeeper Neil
Moss saved his penalty eight minutes from time.
And it was a disappointing afternoon for the fans as the game failed to
ignite.
The first period almost opened disastrously for the Wearsiders with Eric Roy
the villain of the piece.
Roy gifted a back-pass to Marian Pahars leaving Paul Butler stranded, but the
Latvian struck the ball straight at Thomas Sorensen.
Niall Quinn tested Paul Jones at the other end with a looping header from a
Phillips ball but Paul Jones held comfortably under his own crossbar.
Chris Makin became the first booking of the day after just six minutes for a
foul on Hassan Kachloul. But the Moroccan also went into referee Mike Reed's
book for dissent.
Roy almost atoned for his early error when his through ball was deflected into
the path of Phillips. But the striker's volley was woeful.
With the home side being forced into chances from distance by a resilient
Saints' defence, Michael Gray tried his luck from the halfway line but Jones had
the ball covered and collected easily.
But moments later the home side were ahead. A Gray free-kick was flicked on by
Quinn to his strike partner.
And Phillips beat off the challenge of Lundekvam and blasted the ball past
Jones after half an hour of the game.
But Phillips caught goalkeeper Jones while scoring, forcing the Saints number
one off the pitch with a fractured cheekbone to be replaced by Moss.
Stefan Schwarz finally made an impact on the game with a dipping 20-yard
volley but the ball flew wide.
But, if anything, the second period was even duller than the first half.
Nicky Summerbee tried to resuscitate the game with a quality cross but it was
cut out by Lundekvam with Quinn menacing in the area.
And Ripley troubled Sorensen with a powerful drive at the other end of the
field.
But it was disappointing fare for the 40,860 spectators.
Benali wasted a good opportunity when he played a ball to Dean Richards
instead of the unmarked Pahars after 64 minutes.
Saints boss Dave Jones was clearly unimpressed with the lack of excitement and
threw the mercurial talent of Matt Le Tissier into the fray after 66 minutes for
Ripley.
McCann almost enlivened the match with a drive in the 74th minute but Moss
held well.
But the highlight of Le Tissier's time on the field was a caution for tripping
Summerbee.
The Channel Islander offered the travelling fans some hope with an excellent
long ball for Pahars who drove over.
Then eight minutes from time Lundekvam felled Phillips in the area after a
jinking run.
But the England international could only watch as Moss saved with a dive low
to his right.
Beattie missed a superb chance to equalise in the dying moments when he just
failed to connect with a Pahars cross.
Phillips did manage to reach 18 goals when debut boy Kevin Kilbane, who had
only been on the field for four minutes, crossed from the left.
Quinn headed the ball back at the far post and Phillips stooped to confirm
Sunderland's win.
A victory perhaps, but even the majority of festive television scheduling will
be more entertaining.
Teams:
Sunderland: Sorensen, Makin, Butler, Bould, Gray, Summerbee,
Roy (Williams 65), McCann, Schwarz (Kilbane 87), Quinn,Phillips.
Subs Not Used: Marriott, Reddy, Rae.
Booked: Makin, Phillips.
Goals: Phillips 30, 90.
Southampton: Jones (Moss 33), Tessem (Beattie 49), Lundekvam,
Richards, Benali, Ripley (Le Tissier 66), Soltvedt, Oakley,
Dodd, Kachloul, Pahars.
Subs Not Used: Davies, Boa Morte.
Booked: Kachloul, Benali, Beattie, Le Tissier, Lundekvam.
Att: 40,860
Ref: M Reid (Birmingham).
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