Southampton 3-1 Walsall
Walsall crawl to League safety despite falling away from home to a soaring Saints performance.
With their League One fate in their own hands Walsall needed a win to guarantee survival. Southampton although not mathematically could risk conceding a bagful and still be sure of automatic promotion.
The Saints however were in no mood to roll over and hand Walsall an easy win.
Guly stuck the first knife into the backs of the traveling Saddlers' fans on 26 minutes firing home after Jordan Cook cheaply lost Walsall the ball. Three minutes later Connolly added a second wound firing past Walker at his near post sucking the life out of a desperate Walsall side.
Hope wasn't lost for the visitors when Gray skipped through the Saint's defence shooting past Kevin Davies to cap a superb goal that turned Dean Smith's half time team talk into a slightly more upbeat affair.
Smith's efforts to boost his side to a win failed to inspire as Southampton crushed Walsall's attempt to grab a share of the points when on 65 minutes substitute Alex Chamberlin picked up the ball on the Southampton wing, cut inside and blasted past Jimmy Walker in the Walsall goal to mathematically seal promotion and leave the Saddlers waiting for final scores from Peterborough and Colchester.
To Walsall's delight Peterborough smashed 5 past Dagenham while Bristol Rovers were unable to win at Colchester (let alone win by the 15 or so goal margin needed for survival) leaving the Midlands boys safe just one point off the drop zone and Dean Smith safe in the knowledge that his side will be playing football in League One in 2011/12.
Despite the loss Walsall keeper James Walker was delighted with Walsall's survival achievment.
"This is a fantastic achievement, we looked down-and-out in January, but we've dug in and showed great character.
"I'm obviously disappointed about today's result and conceding three goals hurt as it always does, but we can't take anything away from what we have achieved.
"It's a great feeling and I am so pleased for everyone connected to the club. When I came back here I just wanted to do my best and help us move up the table. We've done that and it's so special."
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