14:42: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2002

BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP: Wanderers V SOUTHAMPTON

MICHAEL Ricketts returned to the starting line-up as Wanderers came off the back of impressive performances against the Premiership's big guns, aiming to take all three points from their Reebok clash with Southampton.

The top scorer missed the Liverpool game a fortnight ago with a knee injury but returned as a half-time substitute for Henrik Pedersen at Arsenal last week - games that were lost to late goals - and retained his place in an otherwise unchanged team.

That meant another stint on the bench for World Cup players Jay Jay Okocha and Stig Tofting.

Saints' boss Gordon Strachan made two changes to the team held to a scoreless draw by Charlton at St Mary's. Michael Svensson went in at centre-back for the suspended Paul Williams and Anders Svensson replaced Latvian striker Marian Pahars, who scored the only goal in this fixture a year ago.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; Barness, Bergsson, Whitlow, Charlton; Frandsen, Campo, Farrelly; Djorkaeff, Holdsworth, Ricketts. Subs: Pedersen, Okocha, Livesey, Tofting, Poole.

Southampton: Niemi; Delap, Lundekvam, Svensson (M), Bridge; Telfer, Oakley, Svensson (A), Marsden; Tessem, Fernandes. Subs: Dodd, Beattie, Hall, Ormerod, Jones.

Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield).

15:51: WANDERERS 0 SOUTHAMPTON 0

Half-time

SAINTS keeper Antti Niemi, the man who keeps Jussi Jaaskelainen out of the Finland team, frustrated Wanderers' attacking efforts in a goalless first half at the Reebok.

A recent £2 million buy from Rangers, Niemi denied Youri Djorkaeff, Gareth Farrelly and Dean Holdsworth to give the Saints a platform to go in search of the goals they have struggled to score this season - just three in their first seven games.

It was by no means one-way trafic and at times Wanderers had to play second fiddle in midfield. Sam Allardyce had suggested Gordon Strachan's side would sit back and strike on the counter-attack but the visitors were more adventurous than that with Jaaskelainen having to get down well to save from Fabrice Fernandes while Anders Svensson and Rory Delap went close with shots.

17:02: WANDERERS 1 SOUTHAMPTON 1

Full-time

YOURI Djorkaeff was the hero as Wanderers - victims of last gasp goals in successive games against Liverpool and Arsenal - got one of their own at the Reebok.

The game was into its final seconds when the Frenchman got on the end of a long throw from Jay Jay Okocha, headed on by Mike Whitlow, to smash in the equaliser at the back post.

Saints thought they had secured victory when they took everything Wanderers had to offer before taking the lead in the 82nd minute.

It looked a carbon copy of last season's smash and grab raid when Wayne Bridge, who a year ago set up Marian Pahars for the late winner, did it on his own, picking up Anders Svensson's pass and accelerating away from Ivan Campo's challenge before firing a rising shot past Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Antti Niemi was the Saints hero, pulling off a string of saves to frustrate Wanderers - Youri Djorkaeff, Michael Ricketts, Gareth Farrelly and Dean Holdsworth in the first half and crucially from Holdsworth in the second.

And he was there again two minutes from time to smother a close-range Ricketts effort, which appeared to be Wanderers' last throw of the dice ... until Djorkaeff popped up.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; Barness, Bergsson, Whitlow, Charlton; Frandsen, Campo, Farrelly; Djorkaeff, Holdsworth, Ricketts. Subs: Pedersen for Farrelly 78 mins, Okocha for Holdsworth 78 mins. Not used: Livesey, Tofting, Poole.

Southampton: Niemi; Delap, Lundekvam, Svensson (M), Bridge; Telfer, Oakley, Svensson (A), Marsden; Tessem, Fernandes. Subs: Beattie for Tessem 65 mins, Ormerod for Oakley 75 mins. Not used: Dodd, Hall, Jones.

Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield).

Attendance: 22,692.