Southampton 0 Bristol City 1: If anyone doubted the strength of character which has repeatedly aided City's recover from adversity in recent years, they should have been present at St Mary's.

Beaten all ends up by rampant Reading the previous week, Gary Johnson and his players clearly had a point to prove in front of the Sky TV cameras.

And prove it they did in a thrilling contest which was all about self-vindication for the visitors.

Written off on numerous occasions since winning promotion to the Championship 18 months ago, this City side delights in making the critics eat large helpings of humble pie. This was one such occasion.

Manager Johnson had come in for stick from disgruntled supporters who took issue with his team selection and tactics. He responded by asking the doubters to trust in him and was rewarded with a performance and result which showed his judgement to be sound.

Perhaps no-one had more to prove than the boss's son. A much-maligned figure this season, Lee Johnson was hurt by accusations that he was in the first team because of his father rather than on merit.

When subjected to unreasonably harsh treatment from a section of the Ashton Gate crowd during the recent Reading debacle, one feared for the future of a player who had contributed so much to City's rise from the League One basement to the upper echelons of English football's second tier.

While debate raged all around him, Johnson junior remained focused on the job in hand and chose the best possible moment to answer his critics.

When David Noble picked him out with an astute pass which wrong-footed the entire Southampton defence seven minutes into the second-half, the pint-sized midfielder could have hurried his shot or even passed.

That he opted instead to take full responsibility and pick his spot in the top right-hand corner of the net said everything about his cast-iron resolve. The instant in which his curling shot made the net bulge served as welcome justification for a player who has endured the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune with dignity and fortitude.

His strength of character was evident throughout a team which could easily have buckled after Michael McIndoe squandered a heaven-sent opportunity to put them ahead from the penalty spot in the 19th minute.

Alex Pearce clearly handled Jamie McCombe's downward header and referee Andy Penn correctly awarded a penalty, only for McIndoe to opt for power rather than placement and permit Saints keeper Kelvin Davis to make a comfortable save.

City's players refused to be downhearted, continued to believe in their game-plan and were eventually rewarded with a fourth win in nine away games this season.

"It was exactly the response I was looking for," said Johnson. "They could have let their heads drop but didn't. I thought we had a great spell after the penalty when we should have taken the lead and another one early in the second half that won us the game.

"We played some good football at times and the goal gave us impetus and the strength to hang on in there when Southampton came on strong in the final 15 minutes.

"These boys never give up in adversity and they showed their strength and character in this game. They kept working hard and they did it for their teammate. No-one wanted Michael McIndoe to feel bad about costing us the three points and they rallied to the cause."

Johnson handed David Noble his first start of the campaign and the midfield schemer gave the team a balance and creativity which has not always been evident in previous matches.

Undeterred by his penalty miss, McIndoe produced one of his most potent displays in a City shirt, while Dele Adebola, recalled in place of the ineligible Stern John, caused Southampton's defence all manner of problems with his direct running and aerial prowess.

Chances came and went and the only surprise was that it took City so long to break the deadlock.

Caught out by a swiftly-launched counter-attack, Saints were powerless to act when Bradley Orr's through ball presented the rampaging Adebola with a clear sight of goal. The striker's powerful shot came back off the post, but only as far as Noble, who demonstrated quick thinking to tee-up Johnson when everyone inside the stadium expected him to shoot.

Johnson's goal, his first since the opening game of last season, was worthy of winning any game.

Although McCombe met McIndoe's corner kick with a downward header which forced Davis into a sprawling save moments later, City were unable to conjure a second goal to kill off the game as a meaningful contest and were made to sweat for victory.

Saints threw caution to the wind and substitute Jason Euell and top-scorer David McGoldrick both shot wide with only Basso to beat, while Adam Lallana' low drive took a fortuitous deflection and flew behind for a corner.

City hearts were in mouths when Rudi Skacel went to ground under challenge from Orr, but the referee refused to yield to demands for a penalty and City deservedly held out to record a success.