Football: Derby's aggression pays off but not Benali's

Southampton 0 Derby County

Southampton 0 Derby County 2

The Southampton full-back Francis Benali faces possible club discipline after the 11th dismissal of his career, 55 minutes into Saturday's match, for elbowing Derby striker Dean Sturridge. The Derby player was booked in the same incident."

Benali will start next season with a suspension and he could also be hit in the pocket if the Southampton manager, Dave Jones, decides he was to blame after watching video evidence.

Five Derby players were also booked, but the defender Christian Dailly said it had reflected his team's new attitude away from home. "We have been working on being more aggressive on opponents grounds and taking the fight to the other teams," he said.

Southampton's final home match of the season was a personal disaster for goalkeeper Paul Jones. He received a club player of the year award before the start, narrowly outvoting midfielder Carlton Palmer, but he misread a corner when Dailly scored. Then with two minutes remaining he slammed an attempted clearance against Sturridge and the rebound trickled into the net.

Goals: Dailly (50) 0-1; Sturridge (88) 0-2. Southampton: Jones; Dodd, Benali, Palmer, Monkou, Lundekvam, Le Tissier, Oakley, Hirst (Basham, 69), Ostenstad, Gibbens (Williams, 78). Substitutes not used: Richardson, Warner, Moss (gk).

Derby County: Poom; Delap, Kozluk (Powell, 66), Rowett, Dailly, Laursen, Carsley, Solis (Van Der Laan, 66), Bohinen, Wanchope (Burton, 82), Sturridge. Substitutes not used: Elliot, Hoult (gk).

Referee: M A Riley (Leeds).

Bookings: Derby: Carsley, Laursen, Sturridge, Kozluk, Wanchope. Southampton: Le Tissier. Sending-off: Southampton: Benali.

Man of the match: Dailly.

Attendance: 15,202.