Egil Ostenstad struck twice for Southampton - and saw his side climb off the
bottom of the table.
Ostenstad deservedly opened the scoring for Southampton after 11 minutes to
end a 282-minute goal drought for Dave Jones' side.
Hassan Kachloul added the second after 66 minutes, swooping to power home Matt
Le Tissier's cross with a diving header for his first goal for the club.
And just two minutes later Ostenstad secured the win - only Saints' third of
the season - with his fifth goal this term, smashing home a loose ball after
James Beattie had hit the upright.
Marcus Gayle did pull one back after 76 minutes for Wimbledon but there was no
denying Saints a deserved win after three straight defeats.
It could have been even more emphatic but for the heroics of Dons keeper Neil
Sullivan, the Scotland international making a string of brilliant saves with the
woodwork coming to his rescue when Beattie finally got the better of him.
It was an excellent display by Southampton which will do wonders for their
confidence as they enter the vital Christmas and New Year period.
It was difficult to tell from the first half which side was bottom of the
table and which had won three of their last four games including victories over
Arsenal and Liverpool.
Wimbledon were often shambolic at the back and time and again had to rely on
keeper Sullivan who was at his acrobatic best on several occasions.
Saints' best moves almost all inevitably stemmed from the promptings of Le
Tissier who played some wonderful passes to Ostenstad and Beattie, the duo
looking like developing a useful understanding.
Beattie almost put the Saints ahead after just seven minutes by which time
Sullivan had already made a good save from Kachloul.
A Le Tissier free-kick was powerfully met by Beattie from six yards out but
Sullivan somehow pawed the ball away.
And the Scotland international then surpassed himself on the follow-up by
blocking Kachloul's effort from just a yard away when it seemed certain the
Moroccan international would score.
It did not take long for the deadlock to be broken, however. Paul Jones' long
clearance was flicked on by Beattie and Ostenstad raced clear, shrugging off two
defenders and rounding Sullivan as he raced from his line before slotting the
ball into the empty net.
Beattie then forced another fingertip save from Sullivan before the visitors
managed their first effort on target, Gayle's shot well held by Jones.
Southampton deserved a second goal for their dominance and should have had it
just after the half hour.
Le Tissier's ball released Ostenstad down the left and as he made his way to
the penalty area, Beattie made a superb run into acres of space on the right.
The crowd screamed for an early ball but Ostenstad failed to spot the
opportunity and, as he dithered, he was dispossessed by Blackwell.
Beattie then decided to go on his own and was highly unlucky not to double
Saints' advantage.
Another superb Le Tissier pass set Beattie away, he rounded Sullivan as the
keeper raced from his line but his shot from a narrow angle struck the outside
of the post as Blackwell raced back onto the line.
Le Tissier then almost produced another memorable goal as he dribbled past
three Wimbledon defenders into the area but his left-foot shot was palmed away
by Sullivan.
Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear made a much needed substitution at half-time,
Ceri Hughes replacing Andy Roberts.
Despite an Earle volley which was well over, Southampton still created the
best chances, Palmer's shot from the right hand edge of the area beating
Sullivan only to strike the outside of the far post and run to safety.
Sullivan was forced into action again on 58 minutes, diving full length to his
right to tip away a screaming 25-yard drive from Le Tissier.
It looked as though the Saints were never going to get the vital second goal,
Sullivan again saving at the feet of Kachloul from just two yards out after
Beattie had headed Le Tissier's cross back across goal.
But the danger was not cleared and from the resulting corner Le Tissier picked
out Kachloul again, this time the Moroccan being left unmarked in the area to
score from 10 yards with a diving header for his first goal for the club on 66
minutes.
And just two minutes later Saints sealed all three points with their third and
a second for Ostenstad.
His cross was headed against the base of the post by Beattie before Kachloul
turned the loose ball back across goal for an unmarked Ostenstad to hammer
gleefully home.
Wimbledon's second shot on target after 76 minutes produced their sole reply,
Gayle turning in Michael Hughes' left-wing cross.
Kinnear threw on Carl Cort to make a three-man forward line while Steve Basham
replaced Le Tissier as Southampton tried to shut up shop.
But the Saints deservedly hung on for the win that their play deserved.
Teams:
Southampton: Jones, Hiley, Bridge, Palmer, Monk, Lundekvam,
Le Tissier (Basham 78), Hughes, Ostenstad, Beattie, Kachloul.
Subs Not Used: Warner, Williams, Paul, Stensgaard.
Booked: Kachloul.
Goals: Ostenstad 11, Kachloul 64, Ostenstad 68.
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Thatcher, Earle, Perry,
Blackwell, Ardley (Cort 78), Roberts (C. Hughes 45),
Ekoku (Kennedy 83), Gayle, M. Hughes.
Subs Not Used: Kimble, Bakke.
Booked: Thatcher, Perry.
Goals: Gayle 76.
Att: 14,354
Ref: M Reed (Birmingham).
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