LATE STRIKE IS FLYNN-WIN FOR SAINTS

SOUTHAMPTON 3 WATFORD 2

FLYNN DOWNES admitted the euphoric scenes following his dramatic late winner for Southampton were all still a blur.

And the future for the impressive midfielder, who is on loan from West Ham, is equally unclear.

The 25-year-old kept the Saints’ automatic promotion hopes alive with a goal nine minutes into stoppage time that left Watford, and the top three, seething.

Almost two minutes over the seven added on, Downes poked home Ryan Manning’s corner after controlling the ball with his arm.

At a wild St Mary’s, the winner helped Russell Martin’s side take advantage of slip-ups from Leicester, Ipswich and Leeds.

Downes’ late strike came after early goals from Will Smallbone and Che Adams had been cancelled out with a deflected strike from Ryan Porteous and a leveller from substitute Ismael Kone.

Downes (celebrating with team-mate Jack Stephens, above) said: “They don’t get much better than that – what a feeling.

“We made it hard for ourselves. We were 2-0 up and cruising and then we took our foot off the gas.

“In the second half we weren’t anywhere near it. But the winner showed the spirit we have.

“It was carnage after it went in, I can’t even remember it. I just remember scoring so it will be enjoyable to watch it back.

“It’s going to be a massive five games – let’s get promoted, let’s get it done!”

Watford keeper Daniel Bachmann insisted Downes had apologised to him after the controversial goal.

Bachmann said: “It’s a tough one to take. Flynn came up to me afterwards and apologised.

“I had said ‘Come on, what are you doing?’ And he went ‘Sorry mate, but you would do the same’. I get it.

“They are in a promotion chase and they have got away with that one.”