Life is looking up for Kevin Davies.

He's just bought a new apartment on the Southampton sea front where he sits and watches the Tall Ships cruising up and down the Solent.

But it's the sea change in his footballing career since Glenn Hoddle joined Southampton for which he is truly thankful.

Davies slotted home his sixth goal of the season at The Dell to help Southampton to a victory which virtually consigns Watford to relegation and all but guarantees Premiership football on the south-coast for another year.

Substitute Marian Pahars grabbed the second-half clincher for Southampton with a sharp header, before tearing off his shirt in celebration to reveal the message 'Super Marian'.

But this triumph came courtesy of 'Super Davies' who must be reflecting on what a difference eight months makes. Last August Davies was the most expensive flop in the Nationwide League - his £7.25million transfer to Blackburn having turned into a nightmare of injuries, illness and, more significantly, a complete inability to score goals.

Quite a drawback for a striker. Since returning to Southampton, however, the Sheffield-born poacher has undergone a steady rejuvenation. And it showed in his lively and enterprising display in a match which was as scrappy as it was one-sided.

It could not have begun better for the striker who couldn't buy a goal at Ewood Park. The game was barely four minutes old when defender Wayne Bridge found space on the left and played the ball hopefully into the middle in the direction of Davies.

The Southampton striker was completely unmarked and took the ball on a couple of yards before sliding a left-foot shot past the outstretched arms of Watford goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain from 15 yards.

The goal owed much to Watford's defensive frailties but also said a lot about the renaissance in Davies' confidence. In truth there was little else to write home about in a match which was billed as the clash of the former England managers.

But in reality it only demonstrated how far each man has fallen. Which is not meant to be cruel, just an honest assessment of a match which for large periods was devoid of the rudimentary skills required of Premiership sides these days.

Not even Matt Le Tissier, making his first start since Boxing day, could raise the general malaise. Indeed the former England man caused more consternation to his own team-mates, giving the ball away on the edge of his own area on two occasions.

His legendary free-kicks also seem to have deserted him, twice squandering good positions by shooting tamely into the wall.

Thank heavens for the industry of Stuart Ripley, another former Blackburn man who raced up the right wing all afternoon with purpose and style. If only his final cross had contained similar precision.

You could not say the same about Pahars, the smallest man on the pitch, who came on in the 55th minute for James Beattie and took less than 20 minutes to get on the scoresheet with a header as he rose above the Watford defence from Le Tissier's corner.

As it happened Watford's best chance of the game came after just 40 seconds - David Perpetuini finding Micah Hyde wide on the right of the penalty area in oceans of space.

It was the sort of chance which just must be taken if you are to survive in the Premiership, but Hyde panicked and blasted his shot harmlessly into the side netting. And that's the way it has been going for Watford all season - plenty of courage and commitment just not enough quality.

They did manage to get the ball in the Southampton net in the 17th minute but the strike was ruled out for offside. It was that sort of day.

The victory leaves Southampton in the rare position of going into Easter almost certain of their Premiership status, just one more point needed to mathematically guarantee their position after a mixed bag since Hoddle took over - 11 games in charge which has brought five wins and four losses.

Taylor, meanwhile, has spent the best part of this year making something of a virtue of life in the bargain basement. For weeks, with a smile on his face and the carefree air of a man whose experience of real pressure with England has put life in sharp perspective, Taylor has been extolling the need for the good housekeeping involved in running a little club such as Watford in the Premiership.

Indeed, he has almost made a virtue out of imminent relegation to allow the club, who barely caused the Saints a problem, to regroup and make another challenge next season.

It will not be long before he has his wish.

Teams:

Southampton: Moss, Lundekvam, Tahar, Richards, Ripley, Le Tissier, Tessem (Oakley 83), Marsden, Bridge, Beattie (Pahars 55), Davies.

Subs Not Used: Benali, Soltvedt, Bevan.

Goals: Davies 4, Pahars 75.

Watford: Chamberlain, Cox (Gudmundsson 73), Palmer, Page, R. Johnson, Hyde, Easton, Ward, Perpetuini (Robinson 73), Smart (Helguson 46), Smith.

Subs Not Used: Bonnot, Day.

Booked: Smart.

Att: 15,252

Ref: A Wilkie (Chester le Street).