Saints made it 7 games unbeaten in all competitions as they comprehensively beat Burnley to move up to 8th in the table.
Saints took their time to get going this season but are now showing what the squad are capable of and when using the word squad I do not use the term lightly, this was a Saints team decimated by injury, but was able to bring in quality players to replace those out and do the job efficiently and with precision.
The stats perhaps tell the story of the game, 65% possession, 34 shots on goal, perhaps the highest total we have ever had in a game and 14 of them on target.
That perhaps suggests that the man of the match was Burnley keeper Tom Heaton.
The Saints line up was fairly predictable given the injury's although the one surprise was Jordy Clasie in with Hodjberg on the bench.
After 14 minutes Saints injury problems got worse when Matt Targett was helped off with a hamstring injury, the manner in which he was helped from the field suggesting that it will not be a quick heal.
Sam McQueen coming on for his Premier League debut, indeed only his second first team appearance, his first being an 8 minute sub appearance in the FA Cup almost 3 years ago.
But he slotted in nicely and looked the part, very good seeing as he has only been converted into a full back this summer.
The game basically fell into a patter, Saints played their passing game and the visitors retreated into their final third with a combination of poor finishing, good goalkeeping and sometimes just plain bad luck meaning that the game remained goalless at the break.
The second half needed a goal from Saints to spark it, it came shortly after the restart, Tadic hit a deep corner, Van Dijk headed it back across goal and there was Charlie Austin two yards out to scramble it over the line at the second attempt.
You felt that this was now a Saints side that would not give up a goal easily and if there is one thing Puel has instilled, that is a discipline that has been missing in recent years that means we keep our shape and stay confident in what we are doing whatever the situation.
It was soon two, Nathan Redmond fired home a loose ball after a corner emphatically in a goal in many respects similar to his first goal for the club against Watford.
On 66 minutes it was three, this time Charlie Austin did not need to fight Dusan Tadic Tadic for the ball and effectively put the game out of Burnley's reach.
The final 24 minutes promised more goals, but this would be it for Saints, it was a mystery why we didn't get more and more of one why Burnley got a penalty, the referee being the only man who seemed to spot the offence, although the visitors would claim it was justice for one they should have had in the first half.
A lot of talking points on the manner of this victory.
Firstly that Claude Puel has now shaped the side and got it playing in a disciplined manner that involves possession football and hitting hard when the opportunity arises, it is still early days but the Frenchman has shown qualities that have shut up most of his critics back in August.
Secondly the squad now has a good combination of experience, quality, youth and quantity, we were able to be without the services of around a quarter of the outfield squad either out injured or not 100% fit.
Thirdly the central midfield triangle is the heart of the side, even more so than under the previous managers, Oriol Romeu has stepped up to the plate and looks a better all round player than Wanyama in terms of his ability to get the ball and use it as well as mobility.
We have five quality players for the three positions meaning that Puel can mix and match according to the opponents, they protect the back four well and use the ball quickly to Tadic and Redmond to attack swiftly.
The unsung hero yesterday was Jordy Clasie who quietly and efficiently went about his job and used the ball quickly that many supporters missed.
If we can despatch Burnley so well with so many unavailable then it bodes well for the rest of the season.