Sheffield Wednesday were forced to look further into the relegation mire at Hillsborough after succumbing to fellow strugglers Southampton.

The Owls started the day second bottom, some nine points behind their visitors, who completed their second win under new boss Glenn Hoddle.

Southampton found their winner from an unlikely source - full-back Jo Tessem turning Matthew Oakley's 26th-minute cross beyond Pavel Srnicek in the Wednesday goal.

The Norwegian's goal has eased the pressure on the south coast side but this latest defeat may prove one too far for Danny Wilson's side, who remain seven points from safety with time running out.

The visitors started the brighter of the two sides with Oakley firing over inside the first minute.

Wednesday, denied the services of influential Dutchman Wim Jonk because of a groin injury, employed youngsters Steven Haslam and Alan Quinn in the centre of midfield.

The inexperienced duo were over-run in the early stages and Oakley and Jo Tessem both missed further chances.

Andy Hinchcliffe took the ball off Oakley's toe after the Saints midfielder burst into the box in the fifth minute, at the expense of a corner.

And from the resulting set-piece a mix-up presented Tessem with a one-one chance with Pavel Srnicek.

Des Walker's sliced clearance hit Ian Nolan, leaving Tessem in space 10 yards from goal - but the Norwegian's effort was held at full stretch by Srnicek.

Niclas Alexandersson's burst through the Saints rearguard then provided a chance on 11 minutes but his shot was held comfortably by Paul Jones.

Jones produced a better save six minutes later, tipping Andy Hinchcliffe's 20-yard free-kick over the bar, after Gilles De Bilde was bodychecked by Francis Benali.

But the home side were pinned back by Southampton's incessant raids.

Hassan Kachloul hit the bar only for the linesman to rule Marian Pahars had handled in the build-up and then Pahars headed into the six yard-box with Oakley lurking menacingly.

The visitors' pressure finally paid off in the 26th minute when Oakley's cross from the right was met by the outstretched leg of Jo Tessem, the ball looping over Srnicek from eight yards.

Two minutes later, Wednesday should have been on level terms after De Bilde's burst through a congested area was halted by the sprawling Jones.

The former PSV Eindhoven frontman took the spotkick himself only for Jones to fling himself to his right and turned the ball round the post.

Alexandersson's quick thinking allowed him to beat Jones to a loose ball in the 36th minute but the Swede failed to keep the ball in play after being forced wide.

Then, a minute later, Gerald Sibon forced Jones to tip over a rising right-foot drive as Wednesday pressed for an equaliser.

The giant Dutch striker had another chance four minutes before the interval, his downward header from Hinchcliffe's cross held by Jones at the foot of the keeper's left-hand upright.

Wednesday boss Wilson shuffled his midfield at the start of the second period, replacing the ineffective Petter Rudi with Danny Sonner to the pleasure of the Hillsborough faithful.

Quinn reverted to the left flank with Sonner slotting into his favoured central role.

The switch almost had an immediate effect with Sonner firing a good 51st-minute chance over the top after a neat headed flick by Sibon.

Dean Richards then came to Southampton's rescue six minutes later, hacking clear inside his own six-yard box after Sibon had slipped in trying to turn Alexandersson's left-wing centre goalwards.

Wilson made another change shortly afterwards, top scorer De Bilde making way for Simon Donnelly and While Rudi's exit had been greeted with cheers, the departure of the Belgian brought howls of derision.

The Wednesday manager, clearly sensing the importance of the fixture for his side's survival hopes, made his last throw of the dice in a search for a goal, introducing Andy Booth for Haslam on 69 minutes.

But Wednesday were running out of ideas and Kachloul should have sealed the game with 16 minutes to go, his downward header from Tessem's cross lacking the power to beat Srnicek.

The same combination threatened again three minutes later but after Tessem's trickery down the right, the Moroccan failed to make a full contact and his header drifted across goal and wide.

Wednesday failed to create a worthwhile effort in the closing quarter-of-an-hour and the game petered much as their Premiership future seems to be doing.

Teams:

Sheff Wed: Srnicek, Nolan, Atherton, Walker, Hinchcliffe, Alexandersson, Haslam (Booth 69), Quinn, Rudi (Sonner 48), Sibon, De Bilde (Donnelly 61).

Subs Not Used: Pressman, Cresswell.

Southampton: Jones, Colleter (Lundekvam 72), Dodd, Richards, Benali, Tessem, Oakley, Marsden, Kachloul, Pahars, Davies.

Subs Not Used: Hughes, Moss, Soltvedt, Boa Morte.

Booked: Marsden.

Goals: Tessem 26.

Att: 23,470

Ref: A Wiley (Walsall).