SO the celebrations are on hold for at least a few days yet.

Saints edged tantalisingly close to automatic promotion with a 3-0 win at Brentford today, but third placed Huddersfield’s late show against Brighton prevented them getting over the line.

It was a bit of a rollercoaster afternoon at Griffin Park – although only because of the events at the Withdean Stadium.

Saints were so in control that their result was never in doubt. But the back-and-forth encounter at Brighton, which dramatically ended 3-2 to the Terriers, had fans going through all sorts of emotions.

Most notably – and cruelly – the travelling Saints support thought their passage back into the Championship had been sealed deep into injury time.

But the information they had, which suggested Brighton had grabbed a late winner, was wrong.

Instead, it was Huddersfield who had claimed the three points at the death to keep their hopes of stealing second place alive. The huge roar at Griffin Park soon subsided.

Regardless, the Saints fans - superb in their backing all day - filed out of the ground knowing they are now just one win away from a return to the Championship and a major promotion party – something they could enjoy on Monday at Plymouth.

The Saints supporters were in fine voice in the build-up to kick-off, belting out a whole host of their favourite chants.

They were even joined in the stands by some of the first-team players who weren’t involved in the game.

The injured trio of Lee Barnard, Alex Chamberlain and Lee Holmes, along with keeper Tommy Forecast, had travelled with the squad.

As they were all inactive, they immersed themselves among the raucous away following. If things went to plan, there certainly wouldn’t be a better place for them to sit.

For all Saints’ early pressing, though, the first key goal of the day didn’t arrive at Griffin Park.

Instead, it came at the Withdean Stadium, and it was not what Saints wanted to hear, as Benik Afobe gave Huddersfield an eighth minute lead. That vaulted the Terriers above Saints – but it was only for a fleeting moment.

Adam Lallana’s low strike in the 16th minute opened the scoring in London and sent the travelling support wild. Chants of “We are going up” filled the air, as promotion moved yet another step closer.

The only thing that dampened the moment for the fans was that more of their fellow supporters weren’t there to share it with them.

Despite plenty of empty seats around the ground, and Saints asking for more tickets, they had to make do with an allocation of around 1,850. Clearly frustrated by this, the fans voiced their disapproval with chants of “what a waste of seats” being fired out.

They were on their feet again after half-an-hour, as David Connolly’s clever finish further convinced them that Championship football is just around the corner.

Adkins pumped his fist wildly, while the players and coaching staff on the bench scrambled to their feet in celebration. It was really party time now for the supporters, who bounced up and down with delight.

Saints were rampant and were slicing through the Bees’ back four almost at will. No more goals arrived before half-time, but no one in the Saints end was worrying too much about that.

Of more concern was what Huddersfield were up to, with Lee Clark’s men holding onto their 1-0 advantage going into the break. But it didn’t take long for that to change, with Brighton equalising through Ashley Barnes two minutes after the restart.

News quickly trickled through to the Saints fans, and a big cheer went up from the end that housed them.

There were even a few soft chants of “Seagulls” emanating from the visiting supporters. Even the petty abuse received from Albion last week couldn’t stop Saints getting fully behind them today.

Cries of “the Saints are going up” were becoming more and more frequent – and there was an extra sense of belief in them each time. There were also plenty of tributes from the fans to the club’s late owner Markus Liebherr.

Spirits were dampened slightly just after the hour mark, as Huddersfield retook the lead at the Withdean, thanks to Afobe’s second.

But the fans were dancing again when Matt Sparrow dragged Albion level in the 69th minute. Just one more goal for Brighton would see Saints effectively – if not technically – promoted.

And the fans’ chants of “If the Seagulls score then we’re on the pitch” showed just how desperate they were for an Albion winner.

When Brentford’s Sam Saunders crashed a late penalty against the post it only further heightened the belief this would be Saints’ big day. And Oscar Gobern’s injury time tap-in further boosted the party atmosphere.

For a brief moment it then looked as if there would be a promised pitch invasion, as the fans burst into a major celebration at news of a goal from Brighton.

Sadly, though, word soon spread that it was actually Huddersfield and not the Seagulls who had grabbed an injury time winner.

It was a bit of a cruel moment, but surely it won’t be long now before those same Saints fans are celebrating automatic promotion for real.