Saints finally silenced the doubters and put in a superb display despite Claude Puel using a bit of squad rotation.
Claude Puel rotated the side but showed that his squad now has the depth to be able to do this and still play well.
The game could not have got off to a better start for Saints when with barely five minutes on the clock they were awarded a penalty, although to be honest it was as harsh as they come and for one going our way so we didn't complain.
But then came a bizarre incident with both Dusan Tadic who you would have assumed was the designated taker and Charlie Austin squabbling over who should take the kick, it took the intervention of Virgil Vand Dijk, but Austin took the kick and buried it with aplomb and give Saints not only the advantage but the confidence to play their own game without the crowd on their backs.
Austin scored again with a fine header to double the margin and from then on it was only going to be a case of making sure we played in a disciplined manner and not give the Czech team a lifeline.
This we did and the players who came in who had not started on Saturday gave Puel food for thought both in good and bad ways.
For me the man of the match was Virgil Van Dijk, he did not do anything that spectacular, but he held together a complete new set of partners around him in the back four and was cool calm and collected and did everything you expect from a captain.
In the main those who came in did a great job, Charlie Austin showed why we bought him and could have had a hat trick, Matt Targett showed that he is maturing and a Premier class player and the midfielders emphasised the depth and variety of talent that we have in that department.
Only downside was that again it showed the lack of cover in central defence, Yoshida can be great for 88 minutes but always has a mistake in him and this once again proved the case.
Claude Puel's tactics were spot on, there are those that will say that the spat over the penalty show that the squad isn't happy, but I would disagree, it also showed that the two involved are eager to score and take responsibility, they are hungry for goals.
I have also disagreed with those who say we have no goalscorers Charlie Austin and Jay Rodriguez have both outscored both Pelle and Mane in the Premier League and it was pleasing to see both get on the score sheet last night, Claude Puel has the firepower at his disposal he just needs to use it at the right times and he did so last night.
As I predicted our style does suit the European game and we looked comfortable passing the ball around and rarely allowed Sparta to get any sort of grip on the game, no one walking out of the ground was complaining about Saints style of play or the way it was working, however the only real difference in terms of possession and chances etc between last night and the last two home games is that this time we took our chances and had the luck with us and against Sunderland and Watford we didn't.
The Saints crowd got behind the team and stayed behind it possibly because those who have been all across social media claiming that Puel is incompetent etc could not be bothered turning up last night, it was sad to see 5,000 empty seats in the home sections, especially when you consider that a year ago we had full houses for both Europa League games.
This win lifts Saints top of the group after the news that Happoel Beer Sheva got a shock win in Milan, the group now looks to be a different make up than we first suspected with Inter Milan now unable to name over £100 million of talent in their squad due to fair play league issues, that gives Saints a great chance of not only qualifying from the group, but perhaps winning it, we have got off to a great start we now need to capitalise on it,