Djamel Belmadi staked his claim for a permanent move to Southampton as Saints made it a week to forget for sorry Crewe.
The former Marseille midfielder arrived at St Mary's on a short-term deal this
summer, having previously enjoyed a loan spell with Manchester City earlier in
his career.
And after this display boss Harry Redknapp would be wise to open negotiations
to keep hold of him sooner rather than later as he lashed home a stunning
11th-minute strike to set the Saints on the way to the win.
The Algerian tormented Crewe - who came into the game on the back of a
humiliating 5-1 thumping against Lincoln in the Carling Cup in midweek - and
could have had more than his single strike, which flew into the top corner from
the right edge of the box.
But after spurning a host of chances, Saints completed the job after the break
as Belmadi rolled the ball to Nigel Quashie and the skipper thumped home.
Following that cup humbling against the League Two Imps in midweek, Alex boss
Dario Gradi opted to make changes, with Mark Rivers and Michael Higdon coming
into the side.
But it was on-loan Middlesbrough goalkeeper Ross Turnbull, starting in place
of the injured Ben Williams, who was kept the busiest in the opening stages.
With just seven minutes gone he was forced to fling himself across his line to
tip Kenwyne Jones' shot round the post.
Then just four minutes later, with virtually his next touch, he was picking
the ball out of the back of the net as Belmadi produced his bit of magic.
The former Marseille man, making only his fourth appearance for the Saints,
picked up the ball in the right channel before surging towards the box and dropping
his shoulder to beat Richard Walker and rifling an unstoppable shot into the top
corner.
It was no more than the hosts deserved for their early pressure and after
making the breakthrough they showed no sign of letting up.
Ricardo Fuller was next to try his luck with a right-footed snap-shot which
drifted past the post before David Prutton miscued.
Then with 10 minutes to half-time Jones turned his marker inside out before
hitting a shot across the area which flicked off Adie Moses' boot and shaved the
woodwork.
In between times, Luke Varney headed over from Rivers' curling centre but that
was one of the few times Alex managed to get out of their half.
The onslaught continued after the break and from a Quashie corner Darren
Powell headed straight at Turnbull.
Saints' hopes were hit after 53 minutes when Jones was forced off with an
injury but that did little to halt their momentum and his replacement, Brett
Ormerod, was soon in the thick of the action.
After 63 minutes Saints had the ball in the net only for the referee to blow
up for a foul after Powell's header had hit the woodwork and Fuller turned home
when a second cross was flung into the box.
It was not long, though, before the killer second did arrive. Saints were
thankful to the referee for playing an advantage after Belmadi appeared to be
hacked down on the edge of the box but when the midfielder managed to roll the
ball to Quashie he drilled emphatically into the corner.
Crewe knew the game was up and with time running out they threw on Steve Jones
for Rivers in a bid to pep up their flagging attack.
It was all to no avail, however, as their miserable week ended with another
defeat.
Teams
Southampton Niemi, Hajto, Lundekvam, Powell, Higginbotham,
Prutton, Oakley, Quashie, Belmadi, Jones (Ormerod 54),
Fuller (Dyer 87).
Subs Not Used: Smith, Wise, Cranie.
Booked: Quashie.
Goals: Belmadi 11, Quashie 66.
Crewe Turnbull, Moss, Moses, Walker, Tonkin, Lunt,
Billy Jones, Vaughan, Rivers (Steve Jones 71),
Varney (Johnson 80), Higdon (Foster 80).
Subs Not Used: Cochrane, Tomlinson.
Booked: Higdon.
Att: 20,792
Ref: A Hall (W Midlands).
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