Town stretched the winning run at home to 12 games with goals from Jon Walters and Pablo Counago sealing the points and taking Jim Magilton's side back into the top six.

Walters got lucky with Blues' opener, the wideman's deflection from Billy Clarke's free-kick wrong-footing Kelvin Davis.

The former Town 'keeper had no chance with Blues' second goal either, Counago heading in Gavin Williams' free-kick from six yards out.

Town made one change from the team that went down at Cardiff on Saturday, Clarke coming in for Williams on the left of midfield.

Former Blues' boss George Burley, who bought man of the match Counago to Portman Road in 2001, was given a warm reception from the Town fans on his return to the Club, with ex Town 'keeper Kelvin Davis in goal for the visitors and another old boy, Jermaine Wright on the bench.

Southampton controlled the early exchanges, Neil Alexander quick off his line to smother the danger from Bradley Wright-Phillips, Adam Hammill then wasting a cross from a good position.

Town's first effort of anger came on 12 minutes, Counago firing over the bar after neat control on the edge of the Saints' box.

Good work by Alan Lee down the Town right opened up the visitors' defence but his cross evaded Counago and Clarke.

At the other end, Hammill's cross skimmed off Alex Bruce's head and went just wide, Jason Euell then dragging his shot wide when in on goal. Hammill shooting well wide from distance.

Great skill by Counago from Clarke's pass saw the Spaniard escape down the right and his cross was heading for Lee until Phil Ifil cleared at the far post.

Blues got the breakthrough on 34 minutes, Walters diverting Clarke's free-kick past Davis, the Saints' keeper left with no chance with the ball taking a wicked deflection.

Jhon Viafara picked up the first yellow card of the game just before the break as Saints' frustration started to show.

Saints almost levelled straight after the restart, Ifil's cross volleyed goalwards by Wright-Phillips from six yards but Alexander was equal to the task, tipping the ball over.

Owen Garvan then hit the bar for Blues at the other end, the Irishman almost finding Counago with a delicate chip minutes later.

Saints were inches away from levelling the scores on 52 minutes, Hammill hitting the inside of the post. Then Town had a shout for penalty, Walters going down in the box after Counago's backheel. The assistant referee flagged but referee Grant Hegley waved away the spot-kick claims.

Lee then set up Counago after a mistake in the Saints defence but Davis beat away the effort from close range. Clarke then booked for pulling.

Walters blazed a shot past Davis and the far post following a sublime pass from Counago, Stern John heading wide at the other end.

Williams replaced Garvan just past the hour in Town's first change, the Welsh international making his first home appearance of the season following an ankle ligament injury.

Williams' first touch was to swing in a free-kick for Counago to extend Town's lead with a close range header. Clarke firing over in Town's next attack.

Grzegorz Rasiak replaced John in Saints' first change as the game entered the last quarter hour, Danny Haynes coming on for Clarke.

Wright and Marek Saganowski were given the last three minutes by Saints, Euell and Andrew Surman making way but the duo had no time to make an impact as Town eased to that 12^th successive home win, just three away from equalling a 26 year Club record.

Town: Alexander, Wright, De Vos, Bruce, Harding, Walters, Garvan (Williams 66), Miller (Legwinski 90), Clarke (Haynes 84), Lee, Counago. Subs not used: Supple, Wilnis. Booked: Clarke.

Southampton: Davis, Ifil, Viafara, Davies, Skacel, Surman (Wright 87), Safri, Euell (Saganowski 87), Hammill,Wright-Phillips, John (Rasiak 73). Subs not used: Bialkowski, Bennett. Booked: Viafara.