Southampton 4-0 Sheffield Wednesday: Saints boost promotion push with comfortable win

Adam Armstrong scored and contributed three assists as Southampton strengthened their promotion charge by beating Sheffield Wednesday and equaling a club-record run of 19 games unbeaten.

He then supplied the cross for Ryan Fraser to add their third before setting up substitute Sekou Mara to seal a resounding victory for the home side.

The result meant Saints overtook Ipswich to go second in the table ahead of Town’s later kick-off against Sunderland.

Southampton’s players wore black armbands in tribute to former defender Mel Blyth, a member of their 1976 FA Cup-winning side, whose passing was announced on Saturday morning.

A defensive lapse almost allowed the visitors to go ahead inside the opening minute, with Josh Windass closing down goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu before the ball spun into the path of Bailey Cadamarteri, who was unable to capitalize.

Russell Martin’s side gradually seized control, however, and Wednesday needed Michael Ihiekwe’s goal-line clearance to prevent Fraser from opening the scoring with a volley that bounced down and beat Cameron Dawson.

The breakthrough finally came when Adam Armstrong pounced on an error by Owls defender Bambo Diaby and crossed for Adams, who turned his marker before crashing home his third goal in four games.

But for Dawson’s low stop to deny Kyle Walker-Peters soon afterwards, Wednesday might have gone in two down at the break and boss Danny Rohl responded with a double change, introducing Will Vaulks and Ashley Fletcher for the second half.

Fletcher almost brought the visitors level soon after the restart as he forced a diving save from Bazunu, who also foiled Windass before Saints doubled their advantage, arguably against the run of play.

Diaby was again at fault, giving away possession to Stuart Armstrong, who picked out his namesake and his finish rocketed into the net via the underside of the bar.

There was no way back for Wednesday and Adam Armstrong had another effort cleared off the line by Di’Shon Bernard before teeing up Fraser to score at the back post.

Fraser was involved again in Saints’ fourth goal, releasing Armstrong with a clever reverse ball and his pass was tapped in by Mara at close range to round off the win.

After a recent upturn in form, it was Wednesday’s joint heaviest defeat of the campaign and kept them in 22nd place.