Saints march on towards safety

The saviour: Manolo Gabbiadini reacted quickest to Charlie Austin’s parried shot in a crowded goalmouth.

The saviour: Manolo Gabbiadini reacted quickest to Charlie Austin’s parried shot in a crowded goalmouth.   | Photo Credit: PETER CZIBORRA

Swansea likely to join West Brom, Stoke in the championship

West Brom was relegated from the Premier League after Southampton took a huge step towards keeping its place in the English top flight by beating fellow struggler Swansea.

Darren Moore’s West Brom needed a draw between the Saints and Swans in south Wales last night to take their fight to avoid relegation into the final day of the season on Sunday.

After 72 minutes of frenetic action on Tuesday, substitute Manolo Gabbiadini provided the decisive moment for Southampton when he reacted quickest to Charlie Austin’s parried shot in a crowded goalmouth.

Gabbiadini had only been on the pitch for four minutes and it was only his fifth goal of a difficult season for the Italian.

The result means Southampton moves up to 16th in the table, three points clear of 18th-place Swansea, which is favourite to join West Brom and Stoke in the Championship.

Southampton’s win confirmed West Brom’s return to the English second tier after eight seasons in the top flight, with an eighth-place finish the best the Baggies managed during the 2012-13 season under Steve Clarke.