Swindon kept their promotion hopes on track after Charlie Austin's 15th goal of the season helped them to a hard-fought 1-0 win over in-form Southampton at St Mary's.
It was Saints, buoyed by a fine victory of Championship-chasing Leeds at the weekend, who began the brighter, Rickie Lambert firing a thumping 30-yard free-kick narrowly over early on before strike partner Lee Barnard had a close-range effort chalked off for offside.
Danny Wilson's side were also fortunate to withstand a barrage of Southampton chances late in the first period as Robins' keeper Phil Smith pulled off wonder saves to deny close-range headers from Lambert and towering right-back Wayne Thomas.
The break came at a good time for the visitors, who emerged for the second period with far more intent, and just 10 minutes after the restart, deservedly went ahead.
Austin seized on some unsure Saints defending to race clear through on goal from Danny Ward's pass, before coolly rounding Kelvin Davis in the Southampton goal to sidefoot home for the game's only goal and end the Saints' seven-game winning run on home soil.
Copyright (c) PA Sport 2009, All Rights Reserved.
