''I take full responsibility for this game,'' Uehara said.
''The defensive line-up was a little bit soft. I should have started Logan [Wrightwebb]. Once he came in, our defence tightened up. He was solid there.
''Early on, we suffered so much pressure and conceded two easy goals. The strategy of having only skilful players at the back did not work out. If you have less skilful players at the back, but they can defend, then it's better.''
On not starting Regan Coldicott, Uehara said: ''He played a good game in Auckland, but Peter Rae and [Dan] Morris combine well, and the idea is to maximise their physical potential after having played two games in a few days''.
After being in fine form during recent matches, midfielder Morgan Day was taken off by Uehara after 29 minutes, but the diminutive linkman admitted he was struggling, and actually apologised to the coach as he went off.
For Waikato, striker Nik Robson was in exhilarating form. He scored four goals, and was named man of the match despite missing a 16th-minute penalty, which Southern keeper Tom Batty did well to stop.
Robson scored two goals inside the first 20 minutes and added two more in quick succession in the second half. Sam Messam and Liam Higgins got the other goals.
Southern's solo goal was scored by Dan Morris, and was just reward for ploughing a lonely furrow up front for most of the match.
United's defence will want to forget the match, but there were some dashing attacks by Andrew Ridden and Jacob Schneider and, when he came on in the second half, Coldicott hit a couple of snap shots.
Southern's general strategy was found wanting. In contrast, Waikato coach Peter Smith, a Scot from Auchtermuchty, was delighted with his team's adherence to its plan.
''We have trained well this week, and how you train is how you should play,'' Smith said.
''I was pleased for Nik Robson. He has been working hard and was on fire today. We made him our man of the match, even though he missed that penalty.
''Good players find space, and we used it well on the flanks with Young and big Sam Messam doing as we had planned.
''We were well prepared. The profit is in the detail. I got up and watched [Southern] play Auckland and then watched the video several times of your match against Canterbury. You've got to put the work in.''
Southern will have to put work in now to prepare for next Sunday's home match against Auckland at the stadium.
The Wellington Phoenix increased the Newcastle Jets' winless run to seven games and boosted its own A-League finals hopes last night with a 3-2 victory at Hunter Stadium, AAP reports.
The Phoenix moved to sixth place on 23 points with the victory, which left the Jets second-last on 20 points after 18 rounds.
Down 2-1 at halftime, Newcastle equalised inside the first minute after the break when Craig Goodwin scored his second goal. The left winger cut inside his marker and struck a smart shot inside the far post with his non-preferred right foot.
But substitute Jason Hicks put the visiting side back in front in the 71st minute when he sent two defenders the wrong way before scoring with a well-placed left-foot strike.
ASB Premiership
The scores
Waikato-BOP 6
Nik Robson 10, 20, 54, 58, Sam Messam 37, Liam Higgins 84
Southern United 1
Dan Morris 88
Halftime: Waikato-BOP 3-0.
