An early goal by Steven Davis won the game for a Saints side who are starting to find their shape and confidence.
After taking the lead so early it was a little disapointing that we didn't go on and make this a comprehensive win, but it was a case of doing the job and getting it done and Saints did so with a confidence that has been lacking in recent weeks indeed it could be said for well over a year.
In the preview article I wrote that I thought the manager would use the central two and my predicted side was almost spot on, the only real surprise was Shane Long whom I had commented deserved a starting spot but I didn't think he would be preferred to either Austin or Gabbiadini, but with Austin injured it was Long who led the line and did so with hs usual energy that gave Saints the ability to push forward.
The engine room of the side was Romeu and lemina in central midfield, Lemina was immense and undoubtably man of the match although it has to be said there were other contenders, Romeu gave the foundation to enable Lemina to shine, Wesley Hoedt was dominant at the back, not only defended well but defended with intelligence and used the ball, Shane Long full of running and Steven Davis did what Steven Davis does and capped a landmark appearance statistic by scoring.
But it was not a perfect performance, there were two lapses that saw Fraser Forster make two great stops from close range and mention should be made of the keeper who has had his detractors, but no with solid defenders in front of him can get back to his best.
It was a good solid performance though by Saints, the supporters cannot expect Mauricio Pellegrino to just click his fingers and make everything right straight away, but this was a big step forward, the only thing lacking was the delivery, too often we got into good positions but did not use the ball well, hopefully with confidence that will come.
The big talking point though was Virgil Van Dijk, I have left this to last as that is where it should be, his return should not overshadow the efforts of his team mates, I was surprised that he was used and I was surprised that the manager brought him on with 13 minutes left and changed the formation.
It was a brave move with the game still finely poised, but it worked, it stopped Palace getting up a head of steam in the closing stages as they threw the ball into the box, the problem for Saints if they did was a lack of height into the team.
Bringing on Van Dijk added that height, it was a mixed reaction from the travelling support for the Dutchman though and personally I thought it could have had an adverse affect on our team as we went into a crucial stage of the game with a slender lead.
But we need Van Dijk, those that seemed to think a Yoshida/Stephens combination was good enough, were shown the gulf in class that exists between either of them and Wesley Hoedt in this game, no one would deny that Van Dijk is one of the best defenders in the Premier League.
There are those who will say this win means nothing that everyone has beaten Palace and that everyone has kept a clean sheet etc, but that would be unfair, you can only beat what is in front of you and we did so, there was enough in this performance to show the critics in the Saints support that we have the squad to again finish in the top 10 or more.
This was a team performance, no a squad performance even the players who did not look at their best put in a shift and made what could have been a bad game average, this was a team that worked hard for each other and showed it has a lot more than some of its own fans would have you believe.
So a good solid start from the opening five games and a good base to build on.