There weren't many betting on a Saints win, even less on a first goal for Che Adams, but it was a double for Saints and a treble as we can now officially plan for another season in the Premier League.

In all the excitement of a trilling backs to the wall win over deposed Premier League champions Manchester City, one simple fact as overlooked, the three points that we added to our total for the season meant that on 43 points we can now no longer be caught up by any of the bottom three.

Aston Villa and Bournemouth currently 18th & 19th respectively even if they both win all of their final games so the maximum they can achieve is 42 points.

It might seem a small point, probably the 3rd from bottom club will do well to hit 35 points come the final table, but it was a good feeling to know that we are now going to be in the Premier League next season after the dark days around October, when we suffered that awful defeat against Leicester City.

Things are still not great, but what this win showed was that this squad has spirit and with the right additions next season can be a top 10 side, indeed after this totally unexpected win , that might just be the case this season.

So I for one raised a glass at the final whistle, for those who have lived through this season and been in both St Mary's and away games and have had to put up with some frustrating performances, this was a sweet moment and perhaps will make a few of those doubters start to take notice that sometimes you have to go through some tough times to get to the good ones, it makes you stronger and makes it all the sweeter.

So Ralph Hasenhuttl I salute you, tonight you achieved several things that we never thought possible as Leicester battered us, but the main one is you have resored our pride.

Photo: Action Images

dirk_doone added 22:01 - Jul 5 We are more interested in securing our 5th top 8 finish in 7 years than in what's going on in the relegation zone. We'll certainly finish with a lot more points this season than Puel's team did when it finished 8th in 2017.
3

halftimeorange added 22:17 - Jul 5 After that determined performance I'm now actually pleased I've renewed my ST however, how come we didn't show such resolution earlier in the season. As for walker-Peters - got to be signed.
6

SanMarco added 22:19 - Jul 5 Proud to be a Saints fan today. What a moment for Adams!! Next two are tough but the final three are very winnable. I sense 50 points and maybe more. We'd have taken that a few months ago. Well done to all.
5

SteveMoron added 22:32 - Jul 5 I don't quite see the point of this headline. Has anyone noticed how badly the bottom 3 are playing? Well done to Saints tonight, especially Adams. He will now go from strength to strength.
0

lemmsy added 22:32 - Jul 5 Great result But truth is we deserved a point against arsenal and got lucky tonight, But thAts football. Defended superbly & got the rub, let’s hope we can continue our great away form against Everton & mancs
0

SaintNick added 22:36 - Jul 5 IT doesn't matter how badly the bottom three are playing, we played far worse back in the Autumn, this result was about how we have battled back from that. No one is pretending it is a great result and that we outplayed City, this game just epitomised the way we battled back from adversity. Sometimes you just have to enjoy the moment that after the Leicester game we didn't think was possible, I feel sorry for you if all you can say is that we escaped relegation because the bottom three are poor, 43 points would keep us up in any season so nothing to do with them

5

Pulse added 23:10 - Jul 5 Fantastic result, we are never going to out play City but I am hoping to see some acknowledgement of how Stephens is progressing as a player and a man.
3

theralpholution added 23:49 - Jul 5 Great performance by the team and great to see Stephens get man of the match and receive acknowledgement for his own personal improvement in The Guardian this week. Ralph has reshaped the squad and brought high levels of fitness and commitment which were evident tonight. A fantastic job.
2

Saidou added 07:07 - Jul 6 Pulse , thanks for bringing that up. I thought from around December /January that JStephens was slowly becoming a Vvd-esk player. His 1v1 fights are improving as well. Perhaps it is better to not hype him yet.
1

City_boy added 08:06 - Jul 6 Sorry Pulse and Saidou - Stephens is still not good enough at this level. A few good games hasn't convinced me. He is still error prone and has problems defending balls into the box or with dealing with attackers running at him, which is what he is paid to do. He is definitely not even close to VVD and as for progressing as a player, he is 26 and should be almost at his peak by now. I don't think any other premiership club would come in for him if we put him up for sale.

2

Blogs 31 bloggers

Stoke City Polls