Wednesday fell to their third consecutive defeat against a Southampton side revitalised by George Burley's transfer window signings. Goals from Danny Higginbotham, Grezgorz Rasiak and Kenwyne Jones did the damage against Paul Sturrock's injury-ravaged side, which featured three academy scholars without a first-team appearance to their name on the substitute's bench.

The Owls were without Peter Gilbert, who was ruled out with a knee injury, handing Patrick Collins his first outing of the season at left-back. But Sturrock's men were grateful forthe presence of strikers Deon Burton and Barry Corr in the 16.

The conditions at the St Mary's Stadium were testing, with a swirling wind coming off the coast. As the hosts struggled initially to get their passing game going, Chris Brunt had the first chance of the game but fired his fourth-minute free-kick into the base of the wall.

Gradually, Southampton managed to get the ball down and fashion some promising openings by creating space out wide for crosses into the box. Rasiak headed Andrew Surman's centre over and was then foiled by Chris Adamson from Jim Brennan's ball, while Glenn Whelan did well to block Richard Chaplow's close-range effort from Jones' cross.

The Saints pressure was building and, in the 33rd minute, another fine block - this time by Lee Bullen - prevented Surman from opening the scoring. But the goal finally came a minute later after Rasiak had forced a foul from Collins right on the edge of the penalty area. Higginbotham sent a low left-footed shot inside the far post to burst the Saints' goal dam after four games without scoring.

The lead could have been doubled before the break, Adamson making a fine save from Matthew Oakley and a routine stop from Rasiak. However, the Pole finally netted his first goal for the Saints four minutes after the interval. He was the target for a long free-kick punted into the box and, when the ball dropped to his feet, he made no mistake from 15 yards.

It got worse after 55 minutes and, inevitably, former Wednesday loan man Jones was on the scoresheet. He neatly glanced home a header from Surman's pinpoint cross to make the Owls' task an impossible one.

Sturrock sent on Sean McAllister for his debut, as well as former Portsmouth striker Deon Burton and, later, Barry Corr. The Irishman's introduction sparked a brief surge from the Owls but home keeper Paul Smith was rarely troubled as the Saints eased their relegation worries. Wednesday, on the other hand, were left to be grateful that Millwall and Brighton failed to close the gap on them at the bottom of the table.

Southampton (4-4-2): Smith; Ostlund, Lundekvam, Higginbotham, Brennan; Wright, Oakley (Dyer 85), Chaplow, Surman; Rasiak (Blackstock 85), Jones. Subs: Miller, Madsen, Powell.

Wednesday (4-4-2): Adamson; Simek, Bullen, Coughlan, Collins; Partridge (Burton 56), Whelan, O'Brien (Corr 74), Brunt; MacLean (McAllister 56), Tudgay. Subs: Kirby, Spurr.

Referee: M Thorpe