There was anguish for Saints as well as they surrendered their unbeaten Premiership record but more damaging could be the three-match ban £3million striker Phillips looks certain to receive after lashing out at Boro’s French left back Franck Queudrue who promptly collapsed on the touchline.

It was the climax to a bitterly-fought match of seven bookings and ironic for Phillips, who has admitted that Middlesbrough was his first choice when he moved from Sunderland earlier in the season.

His quick-march was one of the last acts in the Teesside team’s third consecutive victory – all by the slimmest possible margin.

They are results that will have gladdened manager Steve McClaren’s heart after just one point from the opening five games.

And it was Malcolm Christie who again came up with the goods – after his goal in extra time knocked second division Brighton out of the Carling Cup on Wednesday

Not only did Boro deserve their 13th minute lead when Christie cut in from the right past Graeme Le Saux and exploded a shot inside Paul Jones’ near post but they looked more likely, especially in the first half, to add to it rather than have it wiped out.

Their combination of sweat and skill – despite lacking injured key performers like Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu in the heart of defence and Spanish star Gaizka Mendieta in midfield, drove Saints to utter frustration.

The same, probably, as felt by Juninho sitting on the Boro bench all afternoon.

And that same frustration was probably behind Marsden’s moment of madness in the 36th minute.

He went in so late on keeper Mark Schwarzer who had comfortably gathered a tame cross, that you thought the foul came almost on a different day.

And when the talkative Mills remonstrated with him, the balding Saints veteran clearly raised a fist – although he maybe did not make contact – and was extremely lucky to receive only a yellow card from referee Barry Knight who, just a few minutes earlier, had booked Saints Swedish defender Michael Svensson for obstruction.

It seemed, though, that boss Strachan took diplomatic action within two minutes by hauling Marsden off although it is fair to note that substitute Neil McCann had been warming up for some minutes.

The newcomer’s arrival seemed to spark Saints at last and after Telfer’s shot came back off a post in the 44th minute they probably felt that half time had come too soon for them.

But the second period brought no early improvement in their mood and the game eventually subsided into a series of petty feuds, fuelled by a St Mary’s crowd that demanded referee Knight punish any physical excess.

But Southampton, put firmly on the back foot in Europe in midweek by the 1-1 home draw with UEFA Cup rivals Steaua Bucharest, did not make another clear-cut chance until the 72nd minute when McCann arrived just too late at the far post to turn in Beattie’s cross from the right.

The Scot made firm connection but his shot from a tight angle struck the outside of a post.

Boro who had been so fluent at times in the first half, concentrated on breaking up Saints’ rhythm in the second – and did not find it too difficult.

Chris Riggott was a young giant at the back in his return to the side after injury and George Boateng battled for every ball in midfield – often to the ire of the home fans.

But Boro had also deserved their result with first-half flair that materialised in Joseph-Desire Job, Jonathan Greening and Christie all testing Paul Jones after Bolo Zenden had given the Wales keeper a save to make after just 80 seconds.