Bristol City boss Gary Johnson branded his side's 2-0 reverse at Southampton as probably his side's worst performance of the season.Lowly Saints stunned the leaders with a comprehensive 2-0 win, Stern John striking with his 17th goal of the season and Jason Euell grabbing the killer second to lift some of the gloom at St Mary's.

A game which summed up the topsy-turvy nature of the Championship this season saw the team with only one win from their previous 14 outings comprehensively outplay a side looking to take a huge stride towards promotion.

And Johnson let his side know they will have to perform far better if they are to keep their dream of the Premier League alive.

"It was a tough afternoon, a poor game on our part and not what we planned," said Johnson.

"Southampton were a better team than us and we hold our hands up. We chased Southampton around for most of the game.

"It was probably our poorest performance of the season and we are honest enough to admit that. But we are where we are because we are an honest bunch.

"If anything that game will keep our feet on the ground. There will be no talk of the next level at this club."

By contrast, Southampton put a miserable seven days behind them by climbing out of the drop zone and up to the heady heights of 19th.

Saints had dropped into the bottom three earlier in a week which also saw some depressing financial results announced and hastened the likely return of controversial former chairman Rupert Lowe.

And just when Saints fans thought things could not get much worse, their afternoon started badly when fierce south-coast rivals Portsmouth reached the FA Cup final.

But their mood improved immeasurably when John atoned for an earlier miss by rifling the ball into the roof of the net 10 minutes before the break.

Euell made the game safe when he toe-poked the ball past impressive City keeper Adriano Basso late on.

"I'm very pleased with the performance and the result. It's been a tough week in more ways than one," said boss Nigel Pearson.

"That is now the standard we have to replicate in the next four games. There is no room for complacency."

Pearson refused to use the boardroom rumblings at St Mary's as an excuse for his team's position before the game, and insisted he remains focused only on what happens on the pitch.

"I'm not going to enter into the debate as I have no control over what happens," he added.

"I have had great support from above and ultimately my responsibility is my staff and my players.

"It's a ready-made excuse if I want it - but I'm not up for that at all."

More Football News from TEAMtalk