Saints dominated the game without breaking sweat, they got the job done with only one scare, but many left St Mary's feeling that we should have at least doubled the scoreline, but it was about winning more than anything else.

Tonda Eckert made several changes in the starting line up, as mentioned in the preview, one was Caspar Jander dropping out and Shea Charles coming in with Tom Fellows and Cameron Archer replacing Sam Edozie & Matsuki.

The game was effectively won in the first 13 minutes, with just 13 minutes on the clock, Cyle Larin opened the scoring slotting the ball past the keeper from close range after a great run from Tom Fellows saw him get to the byeline and a short cross for Larin to slot home.

The score was doubled just 7 minutes later and it came right out of the blue when Shea Charles sent in a curling shot from 35 yards that left the keeper with no chance and is a contender for most spectacular goal of the season for the way he seemed to just place the ball in the top corner from that distance.

Throughout the game Saints had several chances to increase the lead, but a combination of good goalkeeping, poor finishing and in the case of Tom Fellows just pure bad luck when his follow up shot after the keeper had parried the first effort from his team, saw his shot come off the underside of the bar and somehow stay out and not go in.

At the other end the visitors rarely looked like scoring, their only effort on target came in the opening minutes and was a tame header saved by Daniel Peretz, they had a flurry from a corner where Saints blocked 3 efforts on goal in a row and the one worrying point for us during the game when Flynn Downes sold Taylor Harwood-Bellis short and left chasing an Oxford player through on goal one on one.

Luckily Daniel Peretz got his angles right and the shot was pulled wide.

Although Saints had plenty of the ball and quite a few good attempts, you had the feeling that once we had the game in the bag, the game plan was not to let Oxford get back in it, which was achieved all bar that one dodgy pass.

Again it was a team effort, but it was good to see those that came in push their claim to start every week, Shea Charles was big and strong and scored that worldy, Tom Fellows looked back to his best with a series of great runs, one of which saw the opening goal.

Cameron Archer much maligned at times didn't have a bad game and played a part and could well play a bigger part in the final weeks of the season, it hasn't worked for him a lot so far this season, but without his equaliser at Birmingham we would not be in the top 6, he is a proven quality player, he can play a part.

Tonda Eckert will be well satisfied with his teams performance, every player who got on to the pitch played a part in what was a well managed game on the pitch.

The only fault I can find with any of the afternoon, was why we bought on Ross Stewart for 20 minutes where we did not need him and risk a recurrence of injury.

We could have taken Larin off and pushed Cameron Archer forward or even bring on Oyekunle for some further experience.

Unfortunately results elsewhere did not go for us, Hull won against Sheffield Wednesday which was expected, so they remain 3 points ahead and Wrexham came from behind to win at Sheffield United to stay level on points with us.

Behind us Derby's win over Birmingham leaves them still 3 points behind.

However one result that did go slightly our way was Ipswich V Millwall that ended 1-1, some would have preferred an Ipswich victory as they still have a game in hand, which as it is at Pompey they will likely win.

But it has kept Millwall in a catchable position being only 6 points above us, although if the Tractor Boys win their game in hand then 9 points ahead they are probably out of our sight.

So the weekend ended satisfactory, if you had asked any Southampton supporter just a few weeks ago whether we could go into the International Break in 6th place, they would have suggested that this would not be possible.

Certainly Wrexham fans would have said the same, but now they are quivering as they suddenly have seen us in their rear mirror and now we have overtaken them.

The table has literally turned and we now have the psychological advantage as our next game is at Wrexham.

As it stands we will spent the best part of the next two weeks in the top six, but there will be a twist, Wrexham will play a game in the Championship before that fixture, whilst we will play an FA Cup game, they will be looking to turn the advantage in their favour.

On Good Friday they travel to West Bromwich Albion, a few weeks ago that would have looked an easy game, but the Baggies have pulled themselves out of the bottom 3 with 2 straight wins and in the last 6 games have also drawn 3 with jus the one defeat.

This will make the Welsh club nervy, they need a win or a draw to put pressure on us and go into the clash at the Racecourse ground back in the top six, but anything else than a win would truly give us the psychological advantage, if we were to still be in the top 6 when that games kicked off Wrexham would be truly slipping.

So a pity that they didn't slip up at Sheffield United, but far from a disaster for us, no one said it was going to be easy.

Overall though Tonda Eckert will feel highly satisfied with his team, we are now 14 games unbeaten, including 2 in the FA Cup, but I prefer to concentrate on our League form, that is 12 games unbeaten which is a superb effort, especially when you consider that 9 of them are wins.

Tonda Eckert has truly got the squad playing to his way of doing things and you can see that spirit & energy in the side.

He has been good in using the squad, thus providing competition for places, everyone knows there are no favourites, you have to maintain your standards or you could find yourself on the bench.

But there is no sulking, those that are dropped seem determined to show their worth when they get back in, either in the starting line up or off the bench.

Tom Fellows had been out of the side, deservedly so after a poor run of form, but he came back in yesterday and truly put in a performance worthy of staying in the side.

Sam Edozie has shown that he may have not got the move he wanted but if he is called upon he will give 100%, this is a squad on an upward trajectory, we just have to keep it going.

Yes this game was against a side fighting against relegation, but promotion is won over 46 games and in our case this season if we are to do so 49, in the coming weeks our squad will be a big advantage.

So two seeks of rest and recovery for both the team and the fans, then a 7 game final push for the play offs, it's in our own hands.

All Photos Via Reuters