Saints v Everton

5 mins - Matthew Le Tissier curls a 30-yard free-kick round the wall but he is so keen to hit the target that the shot lacks the power to beat Thomas Myrhe who gathers at the second attempt to his left.

18 mins - Le Tissier picks up a lay-off from Mark Hughes and in one movement he chests, turns and fires a foot wide from 20 yards with the keeper beaten.

21 mins - Hassan Kachloul heads over from Le Tissier's free-kick on the left edge of the area.

22 mins - The biggest scare of the afternoon and a major let-off for Saints. Craig Short's long free-kick is nodded on by the unchallenged Kevin Campbell. Francis Jeffers darts in unchecked but with the goal at his mercy he sidefoots past the left-hand post.

24 mins - The Dell erupts as Saints make the most of their narrow escape by taking the lead. Jason Dodd's long ball in from the right is flicked on by James Beattie who outjumps Dave Watson and Short.

He nods into the path of Marian Pahars who has unbelievable time and space which Charlton fans would weep to see. His first touch is weak but he is under no pressure and steadies himself before blasting in left-footed, the keeper beaten by the power rather than the placing.

29 mins - Francis Benali's high ball is punched out by Myhre under pressure from Ken Monkou. It falls for Chris Marsden whose shot is blocked by Short.

38 mins - Le Tissier shoots well wide from 30 yards.

39 mins - Le Tissier tries again but his 25-yard sidefoot is com-fortably gathered.

45 mins - Third time lucky Sadly not as Le Tissier's 25-yard effort dips just over the bar.

55 mins - Benali hooks Le Tissier's half-cleared corner back in to give a free header to Mark Hughes who has timed his run to perfection but he nods over.

68 mins - Surely Saints are safe as they go further ahead. It stems first from a punch out by Paul Jones to deny Ibrahima Bakayoko. Chris Marsden beats a strangely reluctant Olivier Dacourt in midfield and sprays wide to James Beattie on the right.

He gets away from Michael Ball to cross for Pahars to hurl him-self headlong to score his sec-ond with a diving header just a yard off the ground. 74 mins - Jones makes his first real save and even that is comfortable from Cadamarteri's hook.

77 mins - It's party time! Sheffield Wednesday take the lead at Charlton and word flashes round the ground almost like one big two-way Mexican Wave until the whole crowd are on their feet cheering.

83 mins - Hughes is just wide with a 20-yard shot which would have rounded off the season. But it doesn't matter. Saints are safe and the closing minutes are joy-fully free of tension.

90 mins - It's all over and Saints can relax safe in the knowledge they are in the Premiership.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.