Uefa Cup: Strachan lashing whips up Saints

Gordon Strachan transformed Southampton's wayward return to European competition with what Kevin Phillips called an "unrepeatable" half-time rollicking which whipped his troops into shape against Steaua Bucharest.

Saints were overwhelmed in the opening stages of Wednesday night's Uefa Cup first-round tie at St Mary's, the Romanians taking a 1-0 lead through Claudiu Raducanu's 20th-minute header.

But they improved as the half wore one and, after Strachan's ear-bashing during the interval, Phillips scored a deserved 52nd-minute leveller.

"I can't repeat what the manager said at half-time - but he was certainly disappointed with the first 20 minutes," Phillips said.