Saints watching over Houllier

Last updated : 15 December 2003 By Chris Maxwell
The fiery Scot heaped more pressure on the Liverpool boss by leading his hard-working Southampton side to a deserved 2-1 win at Anfield this Saturday, but he admits that he has great sympathy for the plight of his rival manager.

Strachan said: "I have every sympathy for Gerard, and anyone who wants to be a Premiership manager. It can be tough. If I was a multi-millionaire I would buy a golf course and knock balls around all day, and certainly not be doing this."

"I felt we deserved it in the end, even if they did throw everything at us towards the end. It was a case of 'fasten your seat belts and hang on' and we managed that.

"We defended well as a unit, and as individuals. We were brave at the back and quick and pacy up front.

"We handled the fact that we lost Claus Lundekvam with an ankle injury and had to reshuffle our defence. But we stuck together and got what we deserved.

"Our front two, Brett Ormerod and James Beattie, caused them a lot of trouble with their pace."