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- The pressure on Ipswich increased, but on Saturday evening they defeated Sunderland
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Southampton march on in ominous style, with a quicker pace and the scent of automatic promotion floating on the sea breeze.
Saints ended Sheffield Wednesday’s mini-revival with a four-goal haul and equaled two club records set 102 years ago by extending their unbeaten run to 20 games in all competitions, 19 of which were in the league.
They are still ten points behind leaders Leicester City, but this victory, a ninth in a row at St Mary’s, put the pressure on league rivals Ipswich Town, who responded with a 2-1 victory over Sunderland in Saturday night’s kick-off, to stay. three points ahead of the Saints.
Adam Armstrong led the way with his 14th goal of the season and three assists, and home fans poured out with celebratory songs fueling the belief that they are on their way back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
“Extremely proud of them,” said boss Russell Martin, who will set the new record at his old club Swansea City on Saturday. “To be unbeaten in the league at 19 is really great and the way they have done it, constantly building and a joy to watch.
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Saints remain 10 points behind leaders Leicester City but this victory, a ninth in a row at St Mary’s, piled the pressure on faltering Ipswich Town.
Ryan Fraser found the back of the net to score his side’s third goal against Sheffield Wednesday
Southampton’s Sekour Mara celebrates after scoring to make it 4-0
Russell Martin saw his side record their ninth win in a row at St Mary’s
Adam Armstrong led the way with his fourteenth goal of the season and three assists
“It’s incredible what they did and the way they did it. We want to keep this up for as long as possible. At some point it will stop. But I really want them to make history next week and be remembered for that, because that will take some pushback.
“It’s our job to make sure they stay humble and hungry. Do that and have a real chance of achieving what we want to achieve.’
Che Adams, a former Sheffield United striker who scored the winner when these teams met at Hillsborough in August, struck first in the opening ten minutes before half-time only to meet a Bambo Diaby error.
Saints deserved the lead. Apart from two sharp chances that escaped Bailey Cadamarteri early on, they dominated the first half. Ryan Fraser saw a volley headed off the line at 0-0 and Cameron Dawson saved within seconds of Kyle Walker-Peters’ opener.
Wednesday improved after the break but conceded the second, scored by Adam Armstrong after a pass from Stuart Armstrong. Gavin Bazunu, who made a fine save to deny Ashley Fletcher at 1-0, made another to keep out a Josh Windass free-kick at 2-0 before Martin’s team gave away.
Fraser added the third and substitute Sakou Mara scored the fourth to lift the Saints’ mood on a day when Mel Blyth, one of their 1976 FA Cup winners, died aged 79.
For Wednesday boss Danny Rohl it was a reality check after three victories in a row. “Southampton is in a different league than us when you look at their team,” Rohl said. ‘Very good players with a different goal than us this season, to return to the Premier League. If they do the job like they did on Saturday, they have a good chance.”