Ormerod on sub's bench

Southampton’s striker crisis hit desperation point as Brett Ormerod, who ended a month’s loan with Leeds by playing in their game at Brighton yesterday, was given a place on the Saints substitutes’ bench against a Birmingham side who have also found goals at a premium.

Dexter Blackstock, 18, made his St Mary’s debut for the Saints after being blooded at Everton last week but another teenager, Leon Best, was relegated to the bench for the return of French winger Fabrice Fernandes.

Defender Claus Lundekvam recovered from a virus to take the captain’s armband but Graeme Le Saux was still out.

Saints started the day bottom of the Premiership but Birmingham’s form has been just as worrying for boss Steve Bruce.

While Southampton looked for their first league win in eight attempts under novice head coach Steve Wigley, City, who had Darren Anderton making his first Premiership start, in place of Jesper Gronkjaer, since a free transfer from Tottenham, could boast just one win in the last 17 league fixtures.

Southampton: Niemi, Kenton, Lundekvam, Jakobsson, Van Damme, Nilsson, Anders Svensson, Delap, McCann, Blackstock, Fernandes.

Subs: Blayney, Best, Prutton, Higginbotham, Ormerod.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Upson, Cunningham, Gray, Anderton, Dunn, Savage, Johnson, Heskey, Yorke.

Subs: Gronkjaer, Tebily, Clapham, Bennett, Martin Taylor.

Referee: M Dean (Wirral)