What a great day at St Mary's as Saints capped a great season by not only winning but see one of the results we needed to go for us occur meaning we are guaranteed sixth place and Europa League football.

Saints eventually stormed to victory against a depleted Palace side and then heard that West Ham had lost at Stoke City meaning that we have leap't to fifth place, although this might be a temporary position with Manchester United only needing a point when their match is replayed against Bournemouth.

But we did what we needed to do and beat Palace and then the news filtered through that Stoke were leading West Ham 2-1, but the game was still going, eventually confirmation came through and Saints fans could finally start to celebrate what has been our best ever season in the Premier League and the guaranteed sixth means that it is Europa League for the second season in a row.

Saints started if not badly, then a little stuttering, we just couldn't seem to get our game going and seemed nervous, although I wouldn't quite say it was against the run of play, the goal a minute or so before the break was quite fortuitous in that Sperroni came and flapped at a ball and was impeded by his own defender, the ball fell to Sadio Mane who lobbed it over the keeper and a defender on the line to open the scoring.

But if Saints fans thought that would be it, even in the short time before half time Palace had a good chance that needed a smart save from Fraser Forster to keep the scores level when the whistle went shortly after.

It was another nervous start in the second half and it looked like the nerves were finally settled when Pelle headed home to spark a celebration where he ran over to the bench and sought out Kelvin Davis.

But again if Saints fans thought the season was about to end quietly they were wrong, 3 minutes later ex Saint Jason Puncheon scored a screamer and it looked like it would be a nervy end here at St Mary's whilst ears and eyes in the home section were also looking towards the Britannia Stadium

But the nervy period did not last long and with 15 minutes to go Mane burst through and was clearly pushed with the only doubt being was it in or out of the area, the ref spoke to his linesman on the radio and pointed to the spot.

There was then a bizarre situation as to who would take the penalty, James Ward Prowse would normally take them if on the pitch, but Mane seemed keen to take the ball as did Pelle who looked like he wanted to sign off his Saints career with a flourish.

But it was none of them, Ryan Bertrand was the man to take the kick, he seemed to take a run up of only about two steps but slammed the ball home to restore a two goal lead.

With only a short time to go Saints were not going to let it go now with the finishing line in sight and almost as soon as Steven Davis had scored the final goal of the season to end the scoring at 4-1 the news filtered through the stands that Stoke had scored to make it 2-1.

The final whistle ended with Saints fans celebrating wildly, but then came the wait for the Stoke result to be confirmed, there were over 7 minutes of injury time up in the Potteries , West Ham needed to score twice to break Saints hearts but you had the feeling they wouldn't and finally the tannoy announced what thousands were seeing on their phones, that Stoke had won and Saints were in the Europa League.

Of course due to the situation at Old Trafford we now have to wait to find out what our final finish will be, will it be the fifth place we sit in currently or will United get the point needed to leapfrog us.

Either way it has been a great second half of the season for Saints, Leicester City gained 42 points in the 19 games played since the turn of the year to deservedly win the league, yet we only finished with 3 points less than them in the second half of the season, our 39 points gained making us second only to the Foxes in terms of form in the second half of the season.

That is a great finish for Saints and testament to the way we have been slowly but surely rebuilding the squad since the arrival of Ronald Koeman, there will be some changes in the summer, that is natural in today's modern game, however our League finish and Europa League campaign will mean we are in a much better position to sign quality players than we would have been without European football.

This season has been all about Leicester and rightly so, recent weeks have seen West Ham get publicity not in line with their actual standing, the story on Sunday was meant to be all about West Ham qualifying for Europe next season and bringing Europa League football to the Olympic Stadium, the press were waiting to salivate over the free flowing West Ham way, but at the end of the day it was Saints who came up on the rails to pip them to the last automatic spot and now thank God we can now all support Palace in the cup final.

If Saints fans thought the day couldn't get any better though, a few hours later many were still in the pub celebrating Saints Europa League qualification when the TV showed Plymouth popping in an injury time winner against Portsmouth to condemn the Blue Few to another season in the bottom tier of English football.

Photo: Action Images

SanMarco added 10:10 - May 16 Well done too to all those, including Nick, who kept believing that such a finish was possible. A perfect day with the spuds result as well as the pompey and stoke. Anyone know what the situation re the fa cup final now is? The Echo seems to suggest that if we end up 6th there is still hope that we may get straight to the group stages - presumably if manure win the cup?? I would love to be able to cheer Sevilla and Palace on - I can now do the former (I think) but if a manure win is the price we have to pay for the group stages then I will grit my teeth...

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schatfield added 10:28 - May 16 It was a great game and even better news that West Ham lost. Now we are in Europa again and you could see the joy on Koemans face. I wondered the same about 5th/6th place, do either spot means we avoid the qualifying route, as I thought only 7th if Man Utd win the cup meant that qualifying was needed then? I do think Bournemouth will win tomorrow though, as it seems pretty certain that Van Gaal will now play the kids tomorrow due to the very short time between then and the cup final.. Back to the game...great win. Surprised Pelle didnt take the penalty. Do we all think he will be off this summer? My thoughts are he will sign with Chelsea given Conte seems to be a big fan of his. I also think the Saints board may change their views to how we operate with players leaving every summer, I get a feeling they will dig their heels in with Mane and Wanyama and not let either leave no matter what, in order to show Koeman their ambitions. Just my thoughts though... Enjoy your Monday everyone!

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SaintNick added 10:32 - May 16 I think that we may have to cash in on Wanyama as its the last year of his contract whereas with Mane we dont have to sell
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Sanguin added 10:33 - May 16 I don’t think Shane Long got the credit he deserved for the first goal. He sees that the ball is high and sees Speroni coming for it with a Palace defender between him and Speroni, he plants himself and doesn’t jump for the ball meaning that Speroni has to go through his own defender to get a hand to the ball. If Long hadn’t done this then it would have been an easy catch for Speroni.

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SaintNick added 10:46 - May 16 Long is the unsung hero of this team although he is now getting the recognition that he deserves
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SanMarco added 10:58 - May 16 Not sure 'player of the year award' = 'unsung' but I agree he has made an enormous difference this season. I believe Wanyama will go to either Spuds, Leicester or Arsenal - or even Wet Spam or Everton if they are throwing the cash around. In these situations (e.g. Clyne, Shaw etc) once the new contract is 'stalled' it only ends one way. If MoPo wants him he will get him....

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SanMarco added 11:07 - May 16 Re the group stages - everything I am reading hints that we are automatically there UNLESS Palace win the cup...
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BaselSaint added 11:14 - May 16 Agree with Sanguin, a really clever block by Shane Long for that first goal. He's a really smart player.
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IanRC added 11:32 - May 16 Great end to a very good season. Agree that Long's involvement for the first goal was important but Mane's finish was superb, placement had to be just right. Think Wanyama may be off but hopefully not to Spurs, that was the other good thing yesterday, Spurs bottling their chance of second place. A very different side without Alli and Dembale.
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schatfield added 12:26 - May 16 On another note, we ended the season a mere 3 points behind a champions league spot. How different things could have been without that horrendous winter run we had (yes i know all teams could argue the same thing). But it does show the distance Saints have come in the last few years to being that close to a champions league position.
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Consigliere added 12:29 - May 16 That was a thrilling end to an amazing season! I confess to have had a bad feeling about that match beforehand as Saints have a habit of playing to the level of the team in front of them, and a weakened Palace team invited precisely that sort of performance. And indeed so it was for the first half an hour or so - but the team has learned a bit over the course of the season, and inspired by what was on any showing a magnificent countering goal from Jason Puncheon, they lifted their game and every man on the pitch for us grew in determination to win the match by scoring as often as possible. The second half was as fine a showing as I have ever seen the Saints play, not for individual effort but (as I have said so often) by co-ordination as a team. As with everyone else at the ground I didn't mentally get my sombrero down from the top shelf until the W Ham result was announced but I certainly have now! Next stop some serious business decisions for the Board, on which subject I have much to say, but that can wait for another thread and another day. Today we should just remember that whilst disappointment is the price we pay for joy, so happiness is the reward for patient support and loyalty. Enjoy the feeling whilst it lasts! Next stop some

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Consigliere added 12:31 - May 16 Sorry some extra words crept in there at the end!
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Scummer added 12:40 - May 16 Thought the game looked like one of those days at first, with a lot of closing down. They seemed to be targeting Fonte. The first goal changed the game and it became a lot more open. Next season will be interesting. The only two teams that have been consistent this season have been Leicester and Aston Villa. Everyone else seems capable of beating anyone on their day. If we can get the consistency from the second half of the season throughout next year then we could be a definite force. Then again, as my nan used to say, "should ifs and ands be pots and pans there'd be no need for tinkers".

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SaintBrock added 13:22 - May 16 What's a tinker?
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schatfield added 13:38 - May 16 i put a cheeky fiver on Saints for the title next season, got 200/1 before the weekends match. I saw this morning that its now dropped to 150/1.
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ItchenNorth added 13:44 - May 16 A great second half and atmosphere. Credit to Palace as well, as they made a real game of it: never really being out of it until the forth went in. I said to my 10 year old son on the way out of St Marys: remember these days, this atmosphere, this season and finishing 5th (ok, maybe 6th) in the league because you just don't know where football might take you in years to come. These have been great Saints seasons (the last two esp) in the top league and when could we really last say that happened; the early 80s. ! I'm now really hoping that we retain players and drive forward in 16/17. I'd now love a cup win !

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SaintNick added 14:24 - May 16 A cup win is the next natural step forward for us, FA Cup would be best althouth the Europa League would be better
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TeamCortese added 19:51 - May 16 Delighted with the result. Hopefully there's more of this to come. Now it's up to board. This is crucial turning point in the club's history. We can no longer settle for mediocrity. I URGE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER INVESTMENT CAREFULLY AND WHAT THIS CLUB MEANS TO THEM! MONEY ISN'T EVERYTHING BUT WE CANNOT TAKE OUR POSITION FOR GRANTED. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE JUST SPEND THE MONEY.

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PezzaSaint added 20:47 - May 16 Unfortunately I think we are going to have to cheer Utd on in the FA Cup. Assuming that they get at least a point against Bournemouth tomorrow then an FA Cup win for them would get us put straight into the group stage of the Europa league rather than having to go in at the same stage as last year, the 3rd qualifying round. We played our first leg against Vitesse Arnhem on 30th July, but this year we've got the added complication of the European Championships to contend with. The final is on 10th July and so when England play Northern Ireland in the final it will only give Fraser, Ryan and Mr Davis about 5-10 days of holiday before they have to get back fro pre-season training ;-)

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