WATFORD saw in the new year is some style on the south coast today (Tuesday), as they resolved to respond to their critics in the only way they know how, by smashing home three goals in what was another routine road trip.
A little nervy, following an inexplicable run of poor form at home, it was perhaps understandable that Aidy Boothroyd's side took their time to settle into this encounter, before stamping their authority all over the tie in the second half.
With the game looking certain to be goalless at the break, Watford kept their wits about them right until the whistle, with Damien Francis breaking the deadlock well into first-half injury time.
The goal clearly had a resounded effect on the side, because in the second period they simply controlled the game, creating chances whilst being well marshalled at the back by the exemplary Richard Lee and Dan Shittu.
Further goals from Marlon King and Darius Henderson put the tie well out of the reach of George Burley's boys and meant that, with West Bromwich losing at Ipswich, the Hornets went back to the top of the table as joint leaders with both the Baggies and Bristol City.
The manager made two team changes for the opening game of the year, recalling top scorer King and third top scorer, defender Shittu.
That meant the improving Nathan Ellington had to be content with a bench role, whilst Matt Jackson missed out on the 16 altogether.
In the opposite technical area, Southampton boss George Burley presided over a side featuring three changes from the one that drew two-apiece with Barnsley on Saturday. The scorer of both goals that afternoon, Bradley Wright-Phillips, was recalled to their XI.
Saints kicked off the afternoon against the Hornets, who were sporting red socks and shorts to go with their bright yellow jerseys, due to a clash of colours.
The early exchanges were mixed, both sides getting sights at goal, with Francis for the visitors and Andrew Surman for the home side both firing in weak drives as they looked for an early opener.
Watford were beginning to use the width of St Mary's to their advantage and when Tommy Smith helped switch the play to opposite number Jobi McAnuff in the fifth minute, the 'Orns created the best passage of play in the game so far, with McAnuff's deep cross being dangerously headed back across goal by the ever threatening Henderson.
At the other end Stern John smashed a low shot just wide of a sprawling Lee, after Jordan Stewart invited the opening with his failure to clear a routine header.
Stewart made amends in the next 10 minutes however, with a perfectly timed far post clearance, followed by a first time through ball to release Henderson, who teed up King for a chance of a run at goal.
Stewart was being tested on the far side constantly though and was caught out again when a teasing cross from Jhon Viafara found the head of Wright-Phillips who nodded tamely, but only narrowly, wide of Lee.
The game stayed fairly even as the minutes ticked by towards half-time, neither side creating anything of a talking point until well beyond the half hour mark, when Lee Williamson drew a foul on the edge of the area.
The resulting free-kick was hit by the self same man, but was disappointingly placed into the Hornets' following sat behind Kelvin Davis' goal.
With a minute to the break Boothroyd's side finally tested Davis, Henderson heading just under the crossbar after a delightful McAnuff cross found the forward inside the area.
The Hornets had posted their intent and with immaculate timing, just a minute into added time at the end of the half, they swept into the lead.
Smith, having remarkably recovered from a bout of sickness that had prevented him travelling with his team mates, outpaced Viafara to deliver a right footed cross to the back post, which was swept home by the onrushing Francis from close range.
With a deficit to chase in the second half, Burley's Saints didn't waste any time, Jason Euell rocketing a half volley from the edge of the area straight into the body of Lee, who was alert to the danger.
With the stripes needing a goal, there were glimpses of openings at the other end for the ascendant Hornets and a couple of moments of danger saw a penalty appeal waved away, followed by a twinkle-toed run into the area from Smith, which caused chaos in the home side's area.
Then, a quick break from McAnuff yielded another dangerous free-kick 20-yards from Davis' goal.
This time King stepped up to the plate and with the Saints' wall finally back 10-yards the Golden Boys' top scorer struck a sweet, sweet right-footed shot that a fully-stretched Davis could only get a despairingly weak hand to; certainly not enough to stop King's rocket of a strike.
With boos chorusing around St Mary's, Burley's response was to introduce his Pole-star Grzegorz Rasiak to the action, but just as he did, King's tried-and-tested strike partner Henderson struck his tenth goal of the season to further extend the visiting team's lead.
Francis, facing goal on the edge of the-D, hooked a neat ball to Henderson on the edge of the area, and it was the big striker's turn and shot that made it a hat-trick of goals for him against the Saints this season, as his effort snuck under a hapless Davis.
'Stand up if you're going up' sang the throngs of travelling 'Orns, who were again watching the nation's best away side gobble up three more points.
Smith, who performed heroics considering his state of health just 24 hours prior, was replaced with just over 15 minutes to go by young John-Joe O'Toole.
Southampton, to their credit, pressed and pressed, but a combination of brave defending and clever goalkeeping kept them at bay, much to the frustration of the healthy New Year's Day home crowd.
Indeed, their afternoon was best summed up when Wright-Phillips's injury time drive struck the post and bounced to safety, completing a clean sheet for the visiting side, who were well served by the outstanding Lee and his defenders.
So, despite Southampton's best efforts Watford had full control of the match and never looked in any danger of losing their grip on a game which confounded all of their critics.
It was a fine way to start 2008, the trick now, will be to start taking this sort of form back to Vicarage Road. If they can do that, then there will be few sides in this league capable of stopping the promotion push that has always been the aim for Aidy Boothroyd and his hard working team.
SOUTHAMPTON: Davis; Thomas, Bennett, Davies, Wright; Surman (Hammill 88), Viafara, Safri (c), Euell; Wright-Phillips, John (Rasiak 61). Subs not used: Bialkowski (gk), Licka, Skacel.
WATFORD: Lee; Doyley, DeMerit (c), Shittu, Stewart; Smith (O'Toole 73), Williamson (Mariappa 86), Francis, McAnuff; King, Henderson. Subs not used: Poom (gk), Ainsworth, Ellington.
BOOKINGS: SOUTHAMPTON; none. WATFORD; none.
SENDINGS OFF: SOUTHAMPTON; none. WATFORD; none.
GOALS: SOUTHAMPTON; none. WATFORD; Francis (45), King (55), Henderson (62).
REFEREE: Fred Graham.
ATTENDANCE: 23,008 (2,267 Watford supporters).
