Dave Jones hailed Steven Thompson after he produced an impressive display to help Cardiff to a 2-1 win over Southampton at Ninian Park.A goal in the 90th minute by Roger Johnson gave the Bluebirds all three points, but they had to thank an eagle-eyed referee's assistant who signalled that Saints goalkeeper Kelvin Davis had failed to keep the ball out.

Cardiff had opened the scoring in the 40th minute through the hard-working Thompson, but Southampton equalised on the stroke of half-time with a first league goal for David McGoldrick.

Jones included new signings Tom Heaton, Mark Kennedy and Ross McCormack while Jay Bothroyd was on the bench - but it was Thompson who earned the plaudits.

"Steve Thompson justified his selection by scoring a goal, and I'm very pleased for him," Jones said.

"He worked very hard throughout the match, and I was delighted with his performance.

"Southampton are young and athletic and were in our faces from the start, and although we were a bit sloppy in the opening half-hour, we battled away well and fully deserved the victory.

"It was very important for us to start with a victory, and by putting on two strikers, something I haven't been able to do in the past, we kept up the momentum, and now we can look forward to the next match with confidence."

It was though the Saints who controlled most of the early play, and Johnson and Glenn Loovens had to be at their best to prevent the visitors going ahead.

Thompson's persistence led to the opening goal when his header into the danger area was only partially cleared by Chris Perry, and the former Rangers striker nipped in to ram the loose ball home.

Just as the first half was drawing to a close, Andrew Surman tore down the left flank and outwitted Peter Whittingham, and his hard and low cross from the by-line was rammed in at the near post by McGoldrick.

It took the Bluebirds time to raise the tempo in the second half, and despite the Saints using all three substitutes, it was Cardiff who claimed victory when Johnson was at the far post to head in a Stephen McPhail cross.

Saints boss Jan Poortvliet felt his side deserved a share of the points.

He added: "Both sides would have been happy with a point, but we should have cleared the ball long before they scored their winner.

"I was satisfied with the first half, particularly the opening 30 minutes, but then Cardiff came into it and they worked very hard."

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