Southampton v Blackburn Rovers - Peter White's big match preview

WHEN the present Premiership campaign began some seven months ago, Paul Jones hardly seemed taylor-made for the role of number one goalkeeper at Southampton.

Maik Taylor certainly was - having established himself as a firm favourite with the Dell faithful in the second half of last season as the Saints once again survived what looked an increasingly desperate struggle against relegation.

And with the vastly-experienced Dave Beasant also vying for the number one spot, more than a few eyebrows were raised as new boss David Jones went back to his former club for a new keeper.

Paul Jones himself certainly knew he had a battle on his hands, not only to claim a first team place but, equally important, to convince the supporters that he was the man for the job.

As we see the first hints of Winter giving way to Spring, however, the keeper can content himself with the fact that his mission already seems to have been accomplished.

And he will face Blackburn Rovers tomorrow with his own confidence, as well as that of the team, boosted by their climb to mid-table respectability.

"It was hard when I came here, because that made it five goalkeepers on the books and I knew the fans liked Maik Taylor and Dave Beasant," said Jones the keeper. "They probably wondered why the manager had signed another keeper when they already had two good men.

"But the gaffer had his own ideas and, hopefully, they are now seeing why he bought me."

The fact that Jones is the only ever-present for Southampton in the Premiership this season suggests he has won over everyone.

But it hasn't been easy for him.

It was a big step going from Stockport to the top flight and it took time for things to go to plan.

"In the Premiership you have to keep your concentration for the full 90 minutes," he said.

"It didn't help that we lost seven of the first nine League games. It didn't improve anyone's confidence.

"But since the arrtival of Kevin Richardson, Carlton Palmer anbd David Hirst we have looked a lot more solid and confidence is high."

Even if things had gone drastically wrong for the 30-year-old keeper he had the sort of upbringing which would have ensured he stuck at his task until fortunes swung his way.

For Jones realises just how lucky he is to be playing full-time football, never mind among the elite.

He was 24 before he got his chance in the professional game, starting with Wolves before moving on to Stockport.

Before that, he combined playing with Kidderminster Harriers and working a 12-hour day on a dairy farm.

"Playing football is a lot easier than working for a living, it's like getting paid for a hobby," he said.

"And it certainly beats working on a farm. That meant getting up at 5.30am in a morning and a 12-hour day was the norm.

"Now we train a couple of hours each day and the money is rather better. "But those days on the farm gave me an appreciation of what I have got now and make sure I work hard to keep it.

"When I got a chance with Wolves there was no way I was going to let it go. I used to train morning and afternoon and I think it's paying dividends now."

The fact that both Taylor and Beasant have since left the Dell is testimony to Jones's success and Rovers will come up against a man at the top of his form.

In recent weeks, he has defied the star-studded attacks of both Chelsea and Manchester United to help Saints to valuable 1-0 wins and earned rave reviews against the champions.

Our Carling Opta ratings show that the Saints boss must have had something of a dilemma before plumping for a keeper he knew so well from their Stockport days.

There does not seem much to choose between Taylor and Jones with the former having a marginally better save-success rate. Yet Jones has been far busier this season than Taylor was last term.

Jones also controls his penalty area with greater authority, dropping just four of the 104 crosses he has taken on.

But distribution is not the present keeper's strongpoint.

Making a greater number of saves per game than Taylor did and being more secure on crosses, however, probably just gives the edge to Jones.

Either way, Southampton fans certainly have no complaints.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.