Match ends, Southampton 2, Coventry City 1.
Southampton ended a three-game winless run as two first-half goals gave them victory over Coventry City to keep their faint hopes of Championship automatic promotion alive.
Kyle Walker-Peters opened the scoring after his long-range effort was deflected off Che Adams, minutes after Coventry striker Haji Wright had slipped and missed a penalty kick.
Adams scored his 12th goal of the season 20 minutes later, turning home from close range after a Taylor Harwood-Bellis header across goal.
Play-off chasing Coventry were unable to launch a comeback, despite a second-half Jake Bidwell goal.
Wright had the chance to give the Sky Blues an early lead from the penalty spot, but he slipped on his final step and the ball hit the bar.
Mark Robins' side missed a big opportunity to move closer to the play-off spots - they are now five points behind sixth-placed Norwich City.
Southampton appeared to have stumbled in a vital moment in their promotion chase, drawing with Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough and losing to Ipswich Town in a run of two wins in seven games.
Russell Martin's side found a much-needed victory, however, after a solid first-half showing.
Walker-Peters scored from outside the box with a fine finish before Adams struck with a typical poacher's goal.
Adams was perfectly placed as Harwood-Bellis' header found the Scotland international inside the six-yard area, after a cross from the right.
With the win, which extends a 16-year winning run over the Sky Blues, the Saints are now nine points off third-placed Ipswich, with a game in hand.
Southampton manager Russell Martin told BBC Radio Solent:
"I thought we played some great stuff, we played with real energy in the first half, and should have scored a few more.
"We had a 10-15 minute spell which led to us conceding a goal, when we weren't tidy enough with the ball, and we had a bit of anxiety after a tough few weeks.
"I was really proud of the players. It was a tough night against a good team, we knew it was going to be difficult. We had to show a different side to us at the end.
"We needed that, we got over the line in the end. I was getting fed up with people questioning us and how together we are. I said I didn't want any questions on how much we run for each other, and I got that."
Coventry manager Mark Robins told BBC CWR:
"The first half killed us really, we didn't start well at all. Hitting the bar with the penalty just told the story of the first half, we got dragged around, we looked leggy.
"If we're aspiring to be a team operating at the top end of the division, we have to be better than that. You have to grind performances out, even against good opponents.
"We spoke at half-time, and the players decided it was going to be better. We won the second half, but it's no consolation because of what happened in the first half.
"We were much, much better then, we created one or two openings, and were far more positive, which meant we were in the game."
Line-ups
Southampton
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Bazunu
- 14Bree
- 21Harwood-Bellis
- 5Stephens
- 2Walker-Peters
- 16SmallboneSubstituted forCharlesat 84'minutes
- 4DownesBooked at 42mins
- 7AriboSubstituted forS Armstrongat 83'minutes
- 36BrooksSubstituted forFraserat 65'minutes
- 10AdamsSubstituted forRothwellat 84'minutes
- 9A ArmstrongSubstituted forMaraat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 13Lumley
- 17S Armstrong
- 18Mara
- 19Rothwell
- 20Sulemana
- 23Edozie
- 24Charles
- 26Fraser
- 35Bednarek
Coventry
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 40Collins
- 22LatibeaudiereBooked at 3mins
- 4Thomas
- 15KitchingSubstituted forBinksat 81'minutes
- 21BidwellSubstituted forDasilvaat 81'minutes
- 14Sheaf
- 28EcclesBooked at 40minsSubstituted forTorpat 72'minutes
- 27van EwijkSubstituted forTavares Desidérioat 50'minutes
- 10O'HareSubstituted forPalmerat 81'minutes
- 11Wright
- 9Simms
Substitutes
- 2Binks
- 3Dasilva
- 6Kelly
- 13Wilson
- 29Torp
- 30Tavares Desidério
- 41Lusala
- 45Palmer
- 54Andrews
- Referee:
- James Linington
- Attendance:
- 28,564
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Southampton 2, Coventry City 1.
Post update
James Bree (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Bobby Thomas (Coventry City).
Post update
Gavin Bazunu (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Haji Wright (Coventry City).
Post update
Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Ryan Fraser.
Post update
Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Bobby Thomas (Coventry City).
Post update
Foul by Joe Rothwell (Southampton).
Post update
Ben Sheaf (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Southampton. Shea Charles replaces Will Smallbone.
Substitution
Substitution, Southampton. Joe Rothwell replaces Ché Adams.
Substitution
Substitution, Southampton. Stuart Armstrong replaces Joe Aribo.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ellis Simms (Coventry City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kasey Palmer.
Substitution
Substitution, Coventry City. Luis Binks replaces Liam Kitching.
Substitution
Substitution, Coventry City. Jay Dasilva replaces Jake Bidwell.
Substitution
Substitution, Coventry City. Kasey Palmer replaces Callum O'Hare.
Post update
Flynn Downes (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Haji Wright (Coventry City).
Comments
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That was better today. That should have been 4-0 and the way we played in second half allowed them to come in to us. Decent game management though.
We match on
Good luck in FA cup Cov
It's not the run in, it's how the season started.
Last home game was cracking atmosphere so lets get behind Sky Blues L&D
Leeds are unlikely to do them any favours as it may turn out to be a final day must win home game for Leeds.
The damage was done weeks ago but they can still get back up via the playoffs ,yet face 2 tough games to do so.