Saints back in the big time

Southampton secured their return to the Barclays Premier League after a seven-year absence with a comfortable 4-0 win against already-relegated Coventry.

Goals from Billy Sharp and Jose Fonte in the first half and Jos Hooiveld and Adam Lallana after the break gave a record St Mary's crowd the result they had been eagerly hoping for. The home side dominated from start to finish, rarely allowing their lowly guests a sight of goal. And Southampton could well have won by more, but Rickie Lambert and Guly Do Prado both wasted golden opportunities in front of goal. For manager Nigel Adkins and the players and coaching staff at the south coast club those misses will not have mattered. As, almost three years to the day after a 10-point deduction effectively consigned them to relegation to League One, the Saints are marching back into the top flight.