SAINTS recorded a much-needed 2-1 victory over Coventry City under the lights at St Mary's to end a three-game winless run. 

Che Adams should be credited with both goals, although they will not be in his highlight reel come the end of his career. 

A Kyle Walker-Peters shot was smashed off him and in for the first before he bullied his way through a goalmouth scramble for the second.

That came after USA international Haji Wright had slipped and missed a dodgy penalty for the visitors early in the tie. 

Former Russell Martin player Jake Bidwell, who played under the boss at Swansea City, smashed one in to reduce the deficit after 68 minutes but Saints held on.

The St Mary's side had only won one of their last four home league games so it was important to get back to winning ways. 

Three winless matches since the break put the automatics out of sight even for manager Russell Martin in the build-up to the match. 

He had claimed he would use the remaining games, while trying to win them all, to find a team capable of winning the playoffs. 

Jan Bednarek dropped to the bench in favour of starting two traditional full-backs as one of three changes, while Stuart Armstrong returned to the squad after concussion.

Mark Robins and Coventry had been the best travellers in the league since the end of 2023 with six wins on the road, if you include the festive fixtures. 

They looked like they might have the perfect start at St Mary's, as they were awarded a penalty for a contentious foul on Joel Latibeaudiere by Flynn Downes. 

However, after a stuttered run-up to try and put Gavin Bazunu off, the in-form American international Wright slipped and hit the crossbar. 

Saints opened the scoring successfully after 20 minutes, with a shot from Walker-Peters seeming to hit Adams on its way in from range. 

Captain Jack Stephens had been integral in the build-up to the chance, dancing into midfield and finding Walker-Peters - who still had work to do. 

Will Smallbone had a goal ruled out after a wayward James Bree shot found Adams in an offside position - but they did get the second soon after. 

Adams bundled in one that was certainly his amid a scramble in the penalty box from a corner kick before half-time. 

Adam Armstrong, Adams and Brooks all failed to take advantage of good chances after the break, before Martin made his first change. 

Coventry responded and Bidwell arrived on to a deep Fabio Taveres cross to fire past Bazunu first time and halve the deficit with 20 minutes to play. 

Substitute Sekou Mara, playing out on the right, had a couple of speculative shots while Coventry's Ellis Simms saw one saved by Bazunu. 

But neither side had threatened the goal seriously again by the time the officials signalled for six minutes of additional time. 

The game was bookended with the awarding of a Saints free-kick in Bazunu's box in the very final seconds as Martin celebrated on the touchline. 

Saints: Bazunu; Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Walker-Peters; Downes, Smallbone (Charles, 82), Aribo (Rothwell, 82); Brooks (Fraser, 64), A Armstrong (Mara, 75), Adams (S Armstrong, 82). 

Unused subs: Lumley, Kamaldeen, Edozie, Bednarek.

Booked: Downes. 

Coventry City: Collins; Thomas, Simms, O'Hare (Palmer, 80), Wright, Sheaf, Kitching (Binks, 80), Bidwell (Da Silva, 80), Latibeaudiere, van Ewijk (Taveres, 50), Eccles (Torp, 71).

Unused subs: Wilson, Kelly, Lusala, Andrews. 

Booked: Eccles, Latibeaudiere. 

Referee: James Linington. 

Attendance: 28,564.