QUOTE(FauxHawk @ Apr 29 2008, 12:51 PM)
Waaaaa....things are getting worst
Added on May 4, 2008, 11:08 pmSaints 3 - 2 Sheffield Utd!!
We survive !! Stoke drew with Leicester!
Southampton 3 Sheffield United 2!
Saints fought back from a goal down to stay up in an enthralling encounter on the south coast, finishing with ten men after two goal hero Stern John got sent off for two foolish yellow cards.
Southampton completed a dramatic final-day escape from relegation by coming from behind to beat Sheffield United 3-2 in a thrilling encounter at St Mary's Stadium.
Stern John cracked a second-half double and Marek Saganowski's header shortly before the interval ensured the Saints avoided the drop to League One.
The south-coast side are well versed at beating relegation on the final day - in the Premier League they went into the last day of the season in danger of relegation four times during the 1990s.
But having dropped out of the top flight three years ago, they were staring down the barrel of third division football when Stephen Quinn put the Blades ahead.
Saganowski equalised and John fired Saints ahead at the start of a nerve-shredding second half, in which United substitute Jon Stead dragged his side level.
But John's 19th goal of the season, and comfortably the most important - means St Mary's will again be hosting Charlton, rather than Cheltenham, next term. The striker's afternoon ended prematurely as he was sent off for a second yellow card 10 minutes from time, but the 10 men held out.
The win was only Nigel Pearson's third since he took over in February, but the man who was in charge of Carlisle when goalkeeper Jimmy Glass scored a last-gasp winner to save them from dropping out of the league can add another great escape to his CV.
Saints will also be meeting Sheffield United again next season after their lingering hopes of a play-off place were ended.
Whether Pearson will still be in charge remains to be seen, with former chairman Rupert Lowe poised to take over the club again in the coming weeks.
The Blades fashioned the first chances against a nervy Saints side, with veteran midfielder Gary Speed seeing a header deflected over the top and Rob Hulse shooting high and wide.
The sell-out St Mary's crowd began to find their voice as the hosts started to crank up the pressure, with a couple of crosses from boyhood Saints fan Andrew Surman causing some mild angst in the United defence.
But Southampton were shoved closer to the drop in the 23rd minute when Billy Sharp curled in a deep cross from the right which the unmarked Quinn met with a firm header back across Richard Wright and into the net.
Saganowski twice came close to equalising, with a header which hit Matt Kilgallon and the point-blank drive blocked by Paddy Kenny. The Blades were only denied what could have been a killer second by a superb save by Wright from Kilgallon's header.
And moments later St Mary's erupted when Jason Euell's swirling cross was converted by Saganowski at the far post. A re-energised Saints emerged after the break and six minutes into the second half John sparked delirium in the stands.
John fed Saganowski and continued his run into the area as the Pole deftly lofted the ball over Kilgannon and John Halls and back into his path.
St Mary's held its breath as John took an age to bring the ball down, eight yards out, before dispatching it into the roof of the net.
The Blades would not lie down and substitute Stead levelled when he poked home Quinn's cross from close range.
But Saints were not to be denied and John was again the man in the right place, latching onto Jhon Viafara's header, turning inside the area and shooting low past the wrong-footed Kenny.
The two-goal hero was dismissed with 10 minutes remaining for a foul on Derek Geary. But with St Mary's at fever pitch, the hosts held out to secure their Championship status and spark wild scenes of celebration.
This post has been edited by PIRATES!: May 6 2008, 12:47 PM 
Jul 11 2006, 02:52 PM, updated 2y ago
Quote
i tot msia is chelsea arsenal liverpool man utd colony. 
...Like the way the play back when they were in EPL, was quite shocked when they got relegated...hope we'll see u guys up in Premiership again soon!
though right now i primarily follow NUFC...
Where is your friend going?
Olly Lancashire ® of Southampton clears.
- Southampton's David McGoldrick after scoring the third goal. 
- Southampton's Chris Perry. 
- Adam Lallana of Southampton. 
- Papa Waigo N'Diaye. 
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