An Easter Fun Day

Anders Svensson blasted his first Premiership goal of the season and said: "This is the best we have played since beating Spurs in the FA Cup."

The Swedish international struck with one of the best Saints goals of the season as his side rolled over Leeds 3-2 at St Mary's.

It was Saints' seventh league and cup match unbeaten but only Svensson's third goal of the campaign - the other two coming in the FA Cup against Spurs and Norwich.

"We played extremely well for the first 75 minutes," he said. "We created some good chances and passed the ball round well.

"That is the best we have played since the Spurs win in the FA Cup. It was a fun game to play in. The fact we conceded two goals puts down the effort a bit, but we got the three points which is what we wanted."

Svensson's strike - his first in the league since his goal against Newcastle on the final day of the 2001/02 campaign - was Saints' third and came after a superbly worked move.

Brett Ormerod flicked the ball down the right wing to James Beattie who turned his man and sprinted to the edge of the area, keeping the ball brilliantly under control while it was still bouncing. His lobbed cross found Svensson who just managed to bring it under control and adjust his body superbly to fire home.

It was the first time for 15 matches - the FA Cup rout of Glenn Hoddle's men - that Saints had scored more than two goals in a league or cup match. And it was only the third time all season in the league that Saints had scored three or more - the other occasions coming at St Mary's against Fulham (4-2) and Arsenal (3-2).

Svensson said: "For my goal I don't remember so much about it. Beatts did brilliantly and took on the defender and passed the ball into me.

"I took it down and hit it and it was probably the best left-foot shot I'd ever hit - probably the hardest as well.

"It was my first goal in the Premier League this year but it was nice that we showed that we can play some good football and we are a good team. Going in at half-time 2-0 up felt great anyway and the way we passed the ball around and moved and worked hard, and it was just a fun day for football for us."

He added: "The cup game (against Watford) was fantastic but we didn't play all that well. This Saturday there was good football and lots of chances.

"Leeds are a tough team but, when we got the second goal, we had a lot of confidence and started passing the ball.

"They made it hard for us even when they had one man down."