Languishing in the relegation zone, and humbled by League Two Rotherham United in midweek in their Carling Cup encounter at the Don Valley Stadium, Saints looked to be the ideal opponents for a Doncaster Rovers side desperate to return to winning ways after three consecutive league defeats.
But it didn't turn out that way and Rovers again drew a blank at home, where they need to do better in terms of results if they are to establish themselves as a Championship side.
As was the case in their previous three games, Rovers competed well and on another day could have had something to show for their efforts.
But among several areas of concern was the fact that Rovers conceded early in the second half, after a goalless first 45 minutes, for the third time in four games.
Admittedly there was an element of luck - a commodity which has been in short supply for Sean O'Driscoll's men to date - surrounding the 50th-minute goal.
Record signing Matt Mills, who started his career at St Mary's, put into his own net trying to clear striker David McGoldrick's angled shot.
Questions must be asked, however, of Rovers' defence in the build-up.
Rovers haven't had much luck this season when it comes to penalties and referee Mike Russsell's decision to award a spot-kick against midfielder Richie Wellens looked harsh.
One of the most honest professionals in the game, Wellens insisted after the match that he had played the ball and not Adam Lallana.
If Southampton's Andrew Surman had any sympathy for Wellens he didn't show it as he sent keeper Neil Sullivan the wrong way from the resulting spot-kick.
Saints were awarded a less contentious penalty on 80 minutes following a foul by centre-back Sam Hird on the lively Surman.
Surman again took the penalty but paid the price when going the same way as the first one and Sullivan got down well to deny him.
Said Wellens: "The way our goalscoring is going it was an uphill task at 1-0 never mind 2-0.
"But the margin between success and failure in this league is so narrow and we could easily have been 2-0 up at half-time.
"The first goal was always going to be important in a game like that and had we scored first we would have gone on to win the game; we just
need a bit of confidence.
"But when we went 1-0 down just after half-time, the players started to think 'who will score for us?'
"We came back towards the end but I think the main reason for that was the missed penalty - it gave us a bit of a boost.
"To say it was our fourth successive defeat the spirit in the dressing room after the game wasn't too bad.
"Obviously everyone is disappointed at losing games, but we could have won three of our last four games.
"Southampton weren't bad. They had a team of kids and they were enthusiastic and took a lot of chances. But we weren't at our best today."
Wellens had what appeared to be a strong claim for a penalty turned down.
Doncaster's Olympic Games tae kwon do bronze medallist, Sarah Stevenson - who was a guest of the club - must have sympathised with Rovers, for she famously suffered at the hands of the officials in
Beijing.
Rovers kept plugging away and substitute James Hayter, yet to get off the mark this season, shot just wide of the far post with an angled effort on 83 minutes.
Fellow striker Jason Price looked to have pulled a goal back in stoppage time when netting from close range, but he was ruled offside.
The decision to draft in Price for his first start of the season paid off, and he was Rovers' biggest threat in front of goal.
Had it not been his first start Price may well have put Rovers ahead after just five minutes.
He got on the end of a ball played into the box but failed to beat kelvin Davies in a one-on-one.
Credit the keeper, though.
He pulled off several other good saves during the game - the best of which saw him push a goalbound header by Darren Byfield past the near post on 24 minutes.
Following a run of five league and cup games without a win, Southampton's Dutch-born boss Jan Poortvliet was delighted with the result.
"I asked for passion from the boys, which I didn't see in midweek against Rotherham," he said.
"I thought the players worked hard and deserved their win today.
"But I have to give Doncaster a big compliment for the way they play football. I think that they are a very good team with a lot of movement.
"We had a lot of difficulty in the first part of the game. They were getting behind us and they looked dangerous."
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