Austin at the double as Southampton beat Sparta Prague

Charlie Austin grabbed a brace as Southampton beat Sparta Prague 3-0 to give Claude Puel his first victory as Saints boss.

The home side took an early lead when they were awarded a penalty for handball with Austin winning an argument with Dusan Tadic to take the spot-kick and slotting his effort into the corner.

The former QPR striker had a header disallowed for offside before netting his second with another header after a brilliant cross from the impressive Cuco Martina.

Puel's side had chances in the second half through Tadic and Virgil van Dijk before eventually making it 3-0 in stoppage time through substitute Jay Rodriguez.

The win is a welcome boost for the Saints ahead of Sunday's Premier League game with Swansea City and a trip to the San Siro to face Inter Milan next month.

Can Charlie Austin be Southampton's saviour this season? He has had his injury problems since joining from QPR but Austin showed if he stays fit he can be more reliable in front of goal than Nathan Redmond and Jay Rodriguez.

Charlie Austin (Southampton): The striker showed his prowess in front of goal with a well-taken penalty into the corner and a firm header. His link-up play with full-back Martina is sure to please Puel.

Southampton: Forster 6, Yoshida 5, Long 5, Austin 8, Tadic 6, Romeu 5, Martina 7, Ward Prowse 6, Van Dijk 7, Hojbjerg 7, Targett 5. Subs: Rodriguez 7, Davis 5, Redmond 5.

Sparta Prague: Koubek 6, Kadlec 5, Costa 4, Holek 5, Vacha 6, Frydek 5, Sural 5, Sacek 4, Karavaev 6, Julis 5, Kadlec 6. Subs: Lafata 6, Marecek 5, Pulkrab 5.

5' - GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Sparta. Austin slots in the penalty into the bottom left corner to give the Saints the perfect start.

10' - SO CLOSE! Austin's low cross is blocked by Costa from a corner. From the set piece, Van Dijk rises highest and heads narrowly over the bar. Saints are well on top.

26' - DISALLOWED GOAL! Martina's cross into the the area is headed in by Austin but he is immediately flagged for off-side.

27' - GOAL! Southampton 2-0 Sparta. The same duo combine to double the Saints' lead. Another pinpoint Martina cross nodded in by Austin into the bottom right corner.

68' - GOOD SAVE! Kadlec's shot is blocked and Lafata's fierce effort on the rebound is well beaten away by a diving Forster.

83' - VAN DIJK EFFORT! Saints have a corner down the right. They appeal for a penalty after Yoshida appears to be pushed by Holek. The ball falls to van Dijk who cuts inside and fires a shot over the bar from inside the area.

90'+1 - GOAL! Southampton 3-0 Sparta. Saints punish a loose ball, Long cuts the ball back to Rodriguez who side-foots the ball into the corner first time to seal victory.

Charlie Austin, who has scored on his Premier League and Europa League debut for the Saints, bags his first brace in 275 days.

Austin is the first Saints player to score a brace in Europe since Stephen Moran in 1981.