BEN Chief Soccer Writer Gordon Sharrock was on the South Coast on Saturday for the vital "six-pointer" against Southampton.

This was his report as the drama unfolded before, and during, the match

14:28: SATURDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2002.

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SOUTHAMPTON v WANDERERS

YOURI Djorkaeff was plunged straight into the Premiership survival fight at St Mary's today.

The 33-year-old France international, who has 75 caps to his name in addition to World Cup and European Championship winners medals, was

handed his Wanderers' debut 11 days after completing his transfer from German giants Kaiserslautern - arguably the biggest signing in the

club's history.

He lined up in a five-man Bolton midfield, which included Denmark international Stig Tofting, who made an impressive debut in the 1-0 victory

over West Ham a fortnight ago, and 19-year-old Kevin Nolan, who fortunately emerged unscathed from a car crash this morning en route to

the meeting point before the team flew down for the game.

Djorkaeff's fellow Frenchman, Mario Espartero, who became the fifth new Wanderers' signing in six weeks when he arrived on loan from

French club Metz on Thursday, was given a place on the subs' bench.

Southampton - just two points above Wanderers going into the last 12 games of the season - dealt with their striker crisis by switching

Norwegian midfielder Jo Tessm to play alongside their lively Latvian, Marian Pahars.

There was no James Beattie, no Agustin Delgado, no Matt Le Tissier and no Kevin Davies but Brett Ormerod, the recent £1.75 million signing

from Blackpool, was fit enough to win a place on the subs' bench.

Saints (4-4-2): Jones; Dodd Lundekvam, Williams, Bridge; Delap, Marsden, Svensson, Fernandes; Tessem, Pahars. Subs: Moss, Telfer, Oakley,

Ormerod, El Khalej.

Wanderers (4-5-1): Jaaskelainen; N'Gotty, Bergsson, Whitlow, Charlton; Bobic, Tofting, Djorkaeff, Nolan, Gardner, Ricketts. Subs: Dean

Holdsworth, Rod Wallace, Bo Hansen, Mario Espartero, Kevin Poole.

Referee: Eddie Wolstenholme (Blackburn).

15:49: SOUTHAMPTON 0 WANDERERS 0

Half-time

WANDERERS were frustrated by Saints keeper Paul Jones as they looked the better side in the first half on their first visit to the new St

Mary's Stadium.

The former Stockport keeper pulled off superb saves to deny Sam Allardyce's new boys Youri Djorkaeff and Stig Tofting with Wanderers

trying desperately to impose themselves in this survival "six-pointer".

Djorkaeff's chance came on 15 minutes when the French ace met Simon Charlton's left wing cross with a header that had Jones stretching

to tip the ball over for a corner. Then, after Michael Ricketts had spurned a chance with a bad first touch, Tofting sent the keeper full

length with a fierce 35-yard free kick that took a deflection.

Gordon Strachan's striker crisis deepened on 22 minutes when Marian Pahars limped off with what looked like a groin strain and six minutes

before the interval, Wanderers had to replace Charlton with Bo Hansen after the former Saint appeared to strain himself running for the

ball unchallenged.

16:55: SOUTHAMPTON 0 WANDERERS 0

WANDERERS took a point from their first visit to St Mary's in a poor show of a game neither side deserved to win.

Having looked the better side in the first half they struggled to get into a rhythm in the second period in which Jussi Jaaskelainen was the

busier of the two keepers, saving well from Fabrice Fernandes and Jo Tessem and looking relieved when Fernandes missed the target after

being set up by Chris Marsden.

Saints ended with ten men after Rory Delap was sent off two minutes from time for a second bookable offence.

Saints (4-4-2): Jones; Dodd Lundekvam, Williams, Bridge; Fernandes, Delap, Svensson, Marsden; Tessem, Pahars. Subs: Ormerod for Pahars

22 mins, Telfer for Fernandes 89 mins. Not used: Moss, Oakley, El Khalej.

Wanderers (4-5-1): Jaaskelainen; N'Gotty, Bergsson, Whitlow, Charlton; Bobic, Tofting, Djorkaeff, Nolan, Gardner; Ricketts. Subs: Hansen for Charlton 39 mins, Wallace for Djorkaeff 58 mins, Esspartero for Bobic 79 mins. Not used: Holdsworth, Poole.

Referee: Eddie Wolstenholme (Blackburn).

Attendance: 31,380.

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