Strachan salutes big-hearted Saints

Gordon Strachan insisted he was proud of his players after Southampton produced a battling performance before going down 1-0 to Arsenal in the first FA Cup final to be played under the closed roof of the Millennium Stadium.

Frenchman Robert Pires scored the game's only goal in the first-half to give Arsenal their ninth FA Cup in a record 16 appearances and some consolation for the Premiership title they lost after blowing an eight-point lead.