IT was billed as Paul Sturrock v Saints - but for Harry Redknapp's men, it was much more important than that.

Defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, following on from the loss at another newly-promoted side Luton in midweek, would have meant a nightmare few days for Saints.

Throw in a slightly shaky draw against Wolves and it would hardly have been the best way to kick off the new campaign.

So, travelling up to Wednesday, you could have excused the Saints players for having a touch or nerves.

Confidence has been in short supply and the team have buckled under pressure before.

But, on this occasion, they stood up to be counted and their class told.

The difference in the team's mental attitude from Tuesday to Saturday was remarkable.

Having looked so brittle, so shaky against Luton, suddenly they looked like Premiership players in a cup tie against a lower league side.

And that was no mean feat with a rampant Hillsborough crowd desperate for their first win since gaining promotion to the Championship.

Throughout the side, Saints looked strong.

At the back, there suddenly seemed to be some understanding.

Claus Lundekvam was more like his old self, Tomasz Hajto added much solidity at right-back while Darren Powell and Danny Higginbotham added plenty of muscle.

Up front, Dexter Blackstock looked far more effective partnering Kenwyne Jones than the injured Ricardo Fuller had managed in the previous two matches.

The pair of them had an understanding, the ball was held up well and they made it hard for Wednesday to build from the back.

But it was perhaps Djamel Belmadi who gave the largest cause for hope.

His performance on the left of midfield was excellent.

He provided genuine width, an ability to beat players and get a cross in the box and, though he probably saw more of the ball than most of the Saints players, he hardly gave it away at all.

The balance of having a player in the side that can play out wide cannot be underestimated.

It allowed David Prutton, a central midfielder playing on the right, the opportunity to tuck in slightly and make a midfield three with Nigel Quashie and Matt Oakley that was almost impossible to break down.

Dennis Wise was out injured but it has already become clear that four central midfielders in the middle of the park won't work.

So one of Prutton, Wise, Oakley and Quashie looks likely to be left out when they are all fit - assuming Belmadi stays when his one-month deal is up.

Of course, the script was written for Jones to score the winner.

The Trinidad & Tobago international was treated like a hero on his return to Hillsborough.

Last season, Jones fired seven goals in seven games to propel Wednesday into the play-off places and really kickstart their promotion season.

He was given a rapturous reception when he came on the pitch -and he repaid them by scoring the only goal for the visitors!

It came on 22 minutes when an innocuous looking high ball from Lundekvam landed deep in the Wednesday half.

Centre-half Richard Wood looked for all the world as if he had it covered, but suddenly lost his footing on a wet pitch.

The ball skidded out to Jones, who took a touch and finished across David Lucas into the far corner.

Wednesday had been the better side up until that point but Saints weathered the early storm.

And, despite periods of dominance and looking dangerous on the break, Wednesday didn't force Antti Niemi into a save of note during the entire game.

Both sides had half chances that fell in the box and were put over, but the keepers certainly weren't the busiest.

What was so encouraging from Saints' point of view was that once they were 1-0 up, they never looked like losing. They shut up shop, kept the ball and their class told.

It proved that they haven't forgotten how to win games, and what a bonus that was.

Only time will tell if this result kick-starts the season.

But the signs were there that perhaps things aren't as bad as was first feared after Luton.