Saints’ Man of

IT WAS tight and tense but Manolo Gabbiadini’s second-half goal decided this £180million relegation battle in Southampton’s favour as the Saints took a giant step towards survival.

Three points for the visitors means Swansea now face a huge battle to avoid the drop.

But they did not do enough and the Welsh side’s seven straight seasons in English football’s top flight looks like coming to an end.

Gabbiadini was the man to put a dagger to Swansea hearts.

The substitute rose from the bench to put a loose ball into the home net and this result pushes Southampton three points clear of danger.

Saints host champions Manchester City on the final day while Swansea welcome put a free-kick from a good position into the Southampton wall while visiting skipper Ryan Bertrand and Andy King both had shots saved.

Swansea screamed for handball and a penalty when Wesley Hoedt went to ground tackling Andre Ayew but referee Michael Oliver waved away the appeals.

Managers Carlos Carvalhal and Mark Hughes cut agitated figures on the touchline and that mood translated to the stands.

Swansea were still the more threatening, with Jordan Ayew heading one chance over, but every misplaced pass from the men in white led to gasps of exasperation from the home crowd.

It took until half an hour for Southampton to create a real chance of note.

That was when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg slipped in Charlie Austin, but the Saints striker found keeper Lukasz Fabianski equal to the task.

At the other end, Sam Clucas flicked a King cross just wide as Swansea raised a head of steam before the break, but neither side managed to break deadlock by the time Oliver ended the first period.

Indeed it was Southampton who ended the opening 45 minutes with two chances, Austin working Fabianski again and Nathan Redmond dragging a shot wide.

In the second half Jordan Ayew cut inside from the left and unleashed a long-range dipping effort that looked set for the top corner until keeper Alex McCarthy intervened, tipping the ball over in expert fashion.

It was a superb stop from McCarthy and his opposite number Fabianski followed that with a more routine stop from Austin’s 20-yard drive. Suddenly it was Southampton