Flynn Downes sensationally bundled in a stoppage-time winner to maintain Southampton within the Sky Wager Championship computerized promotion race with a 3-2 victory over Watford.
Will Smallbone and Che Adams had put Saints on the right track to capitalise on Leeds and Leicester’s earlier defeats earlier than Ryan Porteous and Ismael Kone levelled issues up.
However Downes crashed dwelling on the again publish deep into stoppage time to ship St Mary’s and supervisor Russell Martin into raptures – with a play-off place confirmed on the very least.
Saints are actually seven factors off the highest two with video games in hand.
Saints have been speedy out the blocks as Smallbone headed of their quickest purpose of the marketing campaign after 57 seconds.
Adam Armstrong offered an ideal cross from the left facet to permit Eire worldwide Smallbone to have fun his fifth purpose of the season.
The midfielder virtually bagged a quickfire brace when he received the ball with a deal with on the sting of the Hornets field earlier than getting again to his ft to blaze over the crossbar.
The house supporters didn’t have to attend too lengthy for a second purpose, although, as Adams tapped dwelling within the twentieth minute.
His fifteenth purpose, and third versus Watford, this season got here after Kyle Walker-Peters’ cross was sliced by Tom Dele-Bashiru, together with his clearance chased down by David Brooks to tee up the Scotland worldwide.
The momentum all of a sudden turned in direction of Watford half an hour into the match with Yaser Asprilla twice taking pictures broad, the second after a skilful run off the proper flank.
They capitalised within the thirty fourth minute when lackadaisical defending noticed Porteous decide up the ball and fireplace dwelling, by way of a deflection off Jack Stephens.
Vakoun Bayo stabbed one other Hornets likelihood broad as Saints’ benefit was virtually utterly worn out.
However the hosts rallied both facet of the interval. Adam Armstrong managed and fired over a Joe Aribo lifted ball, earlier than Brooks slapped over a first-time effort from the sting of the field.
Porteous virtually notched for a second time within the 53rd minute however his header was cleared off the road by Taylor Harwood-Bellis, earlier than Giorgi Chakvetadze sliced broad from six yards.
Ryan Fraser thought he had settled the nerves when he slotted dwelling within the 83rd minute however had not timed his run from Armstrong’s by way of ball.
And his poor synchronisation was punished when Kone turned on the ball in midfield earlier than driving into the field and coolly inserting into the underside nook – which appeared to place Watford on the right track for a fifth straight draw.
Armstrong virtually received it when he volleyed into the bottom, however Daniel Bachmann brilliantly tipped over earlier than Downes’ last-gasp heroics.
The on-loan West Ham midfielder met Harwood-Bellis’ knock-on from a nook to take the three factors.
The managers
Southampton’s Russell Martin:
To observe…
Watford’s Tom Cleverley:
To observe…