Phillips winner a relief for Wigley

Southampton 2 - Portsmouth 1

The massed ranks of police around Southampton and outside the ground were a clear indication that a big event was taking place yesterday.

This derby match generated nearly 100 arrests when the teams last met in March, so the kick-off had been brought forward to noon. Less drinking time means less fighting time goes the argument, but the interesting action was still off the pitch as the story of a dour game focused on the future of both managers.

Steve Wigley finally won a Premiership game as Southampton's manager, albeit unconvincingly. He is hoping he does not follow his predecessor, Paul Sturrock, by getting the sack after his first win.

The red-faced Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp took a more bullish approach, threatening to quit if his authority was questioned by his owner-chairman, Milan Mandaric, who is reportedly keen to appoint the Croat Velimir Zajec as director of football.

Redknapp said: "I've spoken to the chairman and he might bring someone on the board who knows something about football. I get on with the chairman 99 per cent of the time, but I'm a football man and if I'm not in control, I'm not here.

"I have taken this club from fourth bottom of the First Division to tenth in the Premiership and the last eight of the League Cup and just won the Manager of the Month award at Portsmouth. I think I know something about football... I don't want to fall out with anyone and I really don't need or want the aggro."

Sturrock departed Southampton on the Monday after beating Blackburn in the second match of the season and Wigley, whose win lifts his team out of the relegation zone, admitted this was "a must-win" tie for him following the midweek League Cup five-goal defeat at Watford.

He also insisted he would remain at the club until at least the end of the season. Remain, yes, but in what capacity? The chairman, Rupert Lowe, refused to back his man afterwards. The independent-minded Lowe, who has sought advice from the rugby coach Clive Woodward this season, has got through seven managers in his seven-year control of the club. He claimed to be "unavailable" when asked to clarify Wigley's position and comment on reports that the former Southampton manager Glenn Hoddle is waiting to be reincarnated at the club he walked out on in 2001.

Lowe missed the perfect chance to settle the uncertainty and left Wigley to defend his own corner. Hoddle and his usual right-hand man, John Gorman, have distanced themselves, without ruling themselves out, but the reaction among Saints fans was "they would say that".

Portsmouth took a 12th-minute lead through an Andreas Jakobsson own goal and were probably the better team apart from a spell at the start of the second half. They had more of the possession and nearly equalised in the penultimate minute through Matthew Taylor after they had conceded goals to Dexter Blackstock and the substitute Kevin Phillips.

"To win was a relief and a pleasure," Wigley admitted. "I think this game was more about the players than me, but hopefully I'll sleep better tonight and I'll certainly go out and have a few drinks with my family. The defeat at Watford was the low point of my career, but that has been counter-balanced by a high today.

"I have not had to seek out the chairman because he has always been very supportive of me. I have avoided the press and TV for the past few days, but I could tell my mug was everywhere because I've been getting so many messages. Hopefully this result will prove pivotal for us because we need to get a couple of quick wins to get up the table."

Wigley made five changes to his midweek side, taking risks on James Beattie, Graeme Le Saux and Fabrice Fernandes, who had not even played for the reserves since recovering from injuries. It showed early on as Pompey dominated and went ahead when a hopeful through-ball by Dejan Stefanovic confused the on-loan Spurs keeper Kasey Keller and Jakobsson, who headed the ball over his advancing team-mate under pressure from Aiyegbeni Yakubu. Jakobsson played no further part as a result of the collision.

Saints were fortunate to level when Paul Telfer's cross bounced to the teenager Blackstock off Beattie's hand as he swung and missed at a shot.

The unimpressive Beattie was replaced by Phillips in the 69th minute and the substitute rose unmarked to head in Jason Dodd's free-kick two minutes later. Redknapp was rightly fuming and Wigley punched the air with joy. Let's hope the police had a quiet night too.