It felt like summer as Saints reconvened for Premier League action at Brighton. While that may have been a little premature it now seems that the club can look forward to it with optimism after a huge win.

Going into the match both sides knew that three points would put them on the verge of safety.

As it turned out the day saw Saints, Burnley and Crystal Palace all notch up victories to relegate Huddersfield, put Fulham right on the brink and leave Cardiff needing something truly remarkable to get out of it.

It would take a turnaround of epic proportions from here for Saints to go down. They are so nearly safe now they must feel as if they can touch it – and there are still seven games left in which to pick up what they need.

It is hard to imagine they are going to require more than four points to ensure they remain in the Premier League for another at least another year. There is a chance they may not even need that many.

Given their run-in and their form – that is nine points from the last 12 available – they will surely get the job done with time to spare.

Three weeks without a game at such a crucial time of the season felt like a cruel blow for Saints given the momentum they had built up.

That weird period of time without a fixture, and the fact the temperatures rose, and the sun started to shine, really did make it feel like summer was already here.

So it was a strange feeling, even for the players and staff, to get back at it again.

It would have been all too easy to lose that belief and self-confidence, especially given the first half at the Amex Stadium looked like it was between two teams more determined not to lose than anything else.

But one key moment in the game, a passage of play where Saints were more positive and Brighton lackadaisical, decided a contest in which Hasenhuttl’s tactical change to a back four paid off.

How crucial that goal might well prove to be.

As well as the pressure it heaps on to Cardiff, and the feeling of inevitably they must now be enduring, it gives Saints much greater freedom to go out and express themselves in the upcoming matches.

They can play without fear and trepidation, without nerves, for the first time in about 18 months. And with that, and given Hasenhuttl’s style of play, you feel they will be better, more dangerous in attack, and more likely to put points on the board.

Maybe it is slightly premature to say Saints are staying up but, in reality, it feels that way, and that a happy summer is just around the corner.