Southampton 3 Middlesbrough 0: Boro swept aside by Saints with Chaplow pulling the strings

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins reserved special praise for midfielder Richard Chaplow after the leaders demolished third-placed Boro at St Mary’s.

Busy Chaplow was at the heart of all Southampton’s best moves, making a mockery of the meanest defence in the division.

Brazilian striker Guly scored twice and hit a post in the first half and substitute David Connolly added a third with 10 minutes remaining.

Boro enjoyed some possession for 20 minutes in the second half but they never looked like threatening Southampton’s superiority.

Saints have won six successive home league matches this season and 16 in total including last season, when they were promoted from League One.

Guly scored his first in the 15th minute from a deep centre by Danny Butterfield and then stooped to score another from close range in the 29th.

Middlesbrough only came alive towards the end when goalkeeper Kelvin Davis was pressed into making saves from Marvin Emnes and substitute Alex Nimely.

But manager Tony Mowbray was not fooled by the late revival and admitted: “Southampton have won every game they have played at home and you can see why they are top of the table.

“They posed a physical threat up front which we never adequately dealt with. It is always disappointing to lose although we worked hard enough.

“But this is just one result and we have to bounce back and play well against Doncaster on Tuesday. We have to react in a positive fashion.”

Southampton: Davis, Butterfield, Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox, Chaplow, Hammond (De Ridder 82), Cork, Lallana (Schneiderlin 73), Do Prado (Connolly 55), Lambert. Unused substitutes: Bialkowski, Martin.

Middlesbrough: Steele, McMahon (Zemmama 73), Rhys Williams, Bates, Hoyte, Robson, Bailey, Arca (Haroun 63), Bennett, Emnes, McDonald (Nimely 63). Unused substitutes: McManus, Ogbeche.

Referee: R East (Wiltshire).

Man of the match: Richard Chaplow.