Southampton fought through a game effort from Hull City, and the Saints moved fifth in the Premier League for at least 48 hours with a 2-0 win at St. Mary’s on Saturday.
Graziano Pellè scored in the 81st minute to complement James Ward-Prowse’s penalty kick in the 55th, and Saints now wait to see how Liverpool fares on Monday versus struggling Newcastle United.
[ RELATED: Watch full match replays ]
Hull sits 17th in the Premier League, and can find itself in the drop zone if Burnley upsets Arsenal.
Alex Bruce, son of manager Steve, tripped up Shane Long in the box, giving Southampton a penalty kick. Ward-Prowse converted the PK and Saints went up 1-0.
Pelle doubled the lead from in-close when he first-touched a neat pass from Morgan Schneiderlin past Steve Harper in the 81st minute.
[ RELATED: Latest Premier League standings ]
Hull out-attempted Southampton, and had more corner kicks, while Saints carried possession 54-46 percent.
LINEUPS
Southampton: K. Davis, Alderweireld, Fonte (c), Yoshida, Bertrand, Wanyama (Ward-Prowse, 45'), Schneiderlin, S. Davis, Mané (Tadic, 61'), Long (Elia, 74'), Pellè.
Goal: Ward-Prowse (PK, 56'), Pellè (81')
Hull City: Harper, Chester (Diame, 64'), Dawson, Bruce, McShane, Elmohamady, Livermore, Huddlestone (Sagbo, 74'), Quinn, Aluko (Hernandez, 84'), N’Doye.
