Blues trailed 1-0 at the interval having been second best for most of the first half at St Mary's, but Garry O'Connor levelled matters just four minutes after the restart before Kevin Phillips' late winner.

But the Blues boss insists he needed to kickstart what had been a laboured display until the break.

"I wasn't happy with the way we played in the first half at all," he told the club's official website. "We were second to every ball in the early exchanges and although we did create a few chances as the half went by, I felt we needed to be performing at a much higher level.

"To be honest, I can't recall exactly which words I used to get my message across to the players. But I'm pleased with the way they responded after the break.

"It became a real team performance in the end and all the lads deserve credit."