GORDON Strachan yesterday praised his players after they achieved Saints' highest league position for 13 years.

The team's 1-0 triumph in the last ever game at Manchester City's Maine Road ground surged the Saints up to eighth in the Premiership table, to leave Strachan a very happy man ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final.

"I'm really delighted - we've achieved more than last year in terms of getting more points, finishing higher up, qualifying for Europe with a couple of the lads having forced their way into the international squads.

"So it's been a good season. What we wanted to do was get better but, in some games, we achieved fantastic levels."

When told it was Saints' highest position since 1989-90, Strachan smiled and added: "That's good, it's another thing we've achieved."

And on a humorous note he added: "I'm still in a job at the end of the season - that's the main thing!