SAINTS starlet Romeo Akachukwu believes the under-21s have shown they can win Premier League 2 for the first time in the club's history.

Midfielder Akachukwu, 18, helped his side to a 5-2 win over second-place league finishers Fulham in the play-off quarter-finals on Monday.

Saints have booked a trip to Crystal Palace, who smashed highly fancied Chelsea 6-0 in their final eight contest, for a place in this season's final.

Spurs were the winners of Premier League 2's play-offs last season, but fellow semi-finalists Man City and Man United are three-time league winners.

Akachukwu, who signed from League of Ireland side Waterford in 2024, insists Saints have made up for their recent cup semi-final defeat.

He said: "Everyone's buzzing now. The defeat against Brentford wasn't great, but we knew we had to get our heads together and pick ourselves back up.

"Brentford kind of put everyone behind the ball last week and it was difficult for us to break down, but obviously the defeat in the end, it hurts.

"We had to get going and take that pain and go into the next game and that's what we've done today and came out with the win. Thank God we did.

"We look to progress as far as we can in every competition and obviously we're out of the Premier League Cup, but now we know we can win this.

"If not, we need to make sure we can go as far as we can in this at least. With Crystal Palace in the next round, we're looking forward to that. 

"It'll be tough. They're in flying form and obviously a lot of credit to them for that, but with a good game plan, we believe we can win that game."

Saints are still waiting to learn the official date and venue for their trip to Crystal Palace, with a place in the Premier League 2 grand final up for grabs.

Palace finished just one point and one place ahead of seventh-placed Saints but have impressed in play-off wins over Chelsea and Brighton.