Two second-half goals by Rickie Lambert helped Southampton to a fourth successive league win, at the expense of managerless Tranmere.
Lambert had one good chance in a largely forgettable first half but David Connolly set up Dan Harding for the opener just after the break.
A penalty for Marlon Broomes' needless handball gave Lambert the chance to net his 16th of the season on 64 minutes.
He then made it 3-0 with a beautiful curling free-kick six minutes later.
Southampton manager Alan Pardew told BBC Radio Solent:
"Tranmere made it very difficult for us; they tried to suck us into a game we didn't want to play.
"When the first goal went in, you felt the game would change somewhat. Tranmere would have to come and start being a bit more proactive, and then we showed our quality.
"Rickie Lambert has got a fantastic hit and he proved that with the penalty and the free-kick. He's been threatening all season to do one of those and he buried it today - a fantastic goal."
Tranmere caretaker manager Les Parry told BBC Radio Merseyside:
"We came in at half-time disappointed that we weren't leading. I thought we were the better side in the first half.
"But two great goals and a stupid penalty in the space of 18 minutes [in the second half] undid us."
90:00+2:01 Ndiaye Papa Waigo takes a shot. Luke Daniels makes a comfortable save.
90:00+1:06 The ball is delivered by Zoumana Bakayogo, save by Bartosz Bialkowski.
89:16 The offside flag is raised against Ndiaye Papa Waigo. Luke Daniels restarts play with the free kick.
87:49 Corner from the left by-line taken by Chris Shuker, save by Bartosz Bialkowski.
87:25 The assistant referee signals for offside against Ndiaye Papa Waigo. Indirect free kick taken by Luke Daniels.
86:33 Dan Harding concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Shuker. Chris Shuker produces a cross, Michael Ricketts takes a shot. Save by Bartosz Bialkowski.
84:58 Ash Taylor sends in a cross, Bartosz Bialkowski makes a save.
83:31 Foul by Ian Goodison on Radhi Jaidi, free kick awarded. Bartosz Bialkowski takes the direct free kick.
82:37 Substitution Jacob Mellis comes on in place of Richard Lambert.
81:44 Corner taken right-footed by Paul McLaren from the right by-line, clearance made by Radhi Jaidi.
77:40 Adam Lallana takes a short corner.
77:22 Corner taken by Lloyd James from the right by-line.
76:11 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Lloyd James.
76:11 Substitution John Welsh goes off and Paul McLaren comes on.
73:03 Substitution Ndiaye Papa Waigo is brought on as a substitute for David Connolly.
69:56 GOAL - Richard Lambert:Southampton 3 - 0 Tranmere Richard Lambert grabs a goal direct from the free kick from a long way out to the top right corner of the goal. Southampton 3-0 Tranmere.
69:54 Booking Craig Curran goes into the referee's book.
69:17 Foul by Craig Curran on Dan Harding, free kick awarded.
67:43 Direct free kick taken by Bartosz Bialkowski.
67:43 Substitution Chris Shuker is brought on as a substitute for Gareth Edds.
67:43 Substitution Michael Ricketts replaces Terry Gornell.
67:43 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lloyd James by Ian Thomas-Moore.
67:04 Michail Antonio has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.
66:32 Corner taken right-footed by Lloyd James, Marlon Broomes manages to make a clearance.
64:34 Dan Harding takes the free kick.
64:34 Substitution Morgan Schneiderlin goes off and Paul Wotton comes on.
64:34 Richard Lambert fouled by Ash Taylor, the ref awards a free kick.
63:59 GOAL - Richard Lambert:Southampton 2 - 0 Tranmere Power penalty scored by Richard Lambert. Southampton 2-0 Tranmere.
63:08 Booking Marlon Broomes goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
62:58 Marlon Broomes is penalised for a handball.
Correction - 62:30 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Lloyd James from the right by-line.
62:30 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Lloyd James.
61:54 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Lloyd James from the right by-line, Dean Hammond takes a shot. Clearance made by Shaleum Logan.
61:06 Corner taken short by Lloyd James.
52:51 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ash Taylor by Morgan Schneiderlin. Direct free kick taken by Luke Daniels.
50:54 Assist on the goal came from David Connolly.
50:54 GOAL - Dan Harding:Southampton 1 - 0 Tranmere Dan Harding scores a goal from deep inside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Southampton 1-0 Tranmere.
49:51 Dan Harding challenges Craig Curran unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Luke Daniels.
48:45 Gareth Edds fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
48:45 Booking Booking for Morgan Schneiderlin.
48:30 Morgan Schneiderlin challenges John Welsh unfairly and gives away a free kick.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
Half Time
45:00+2:58 The match has reached half-time.
45:00+1:50 John Welsh produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that goes wide left of the target.
44:05 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by John Welsh from the left by-line, Bartosz Bialkowski makes a save.
43:51 A cross is delivered by Shaleum Logan, clearance by Lloyd James.
40:06 Free kick awarded for a foul by Michail Antonio on Zoumana Bakayogo. Ian Goodison takes the free kick.
38:53 Radhi Jaidi fouled by Terry Gornell, the ref awards a free kick. Bartosz Bialkowski restarts play with the free kick.
37:03 Ian Thomas-Moore fouled by Michail Antonio, the ref awards a free kick. John Welsh takes the direct free kick.
36:32 Radhi Jaidi fouled by Terry Gornell, the ref awards a free kick. Lloyd James takes the free kick.
35:55 Richard Lambert takes a shot. Save by Luke Daniels.
34:53 Direct free kick taken by Luke Daniels.
34:53 Booking Richard Lambert receives a caution.
34:53 Booking Booking for Ian Goodison.
33:44 Foul by Richard Lambert on Ian Goodison, free kick awarded.
29:41 Foul by Radhi Jaidi on Terry Gornell, free kick awarded. Strike on goal comes in from John Welsh from the free kick.
26:49 Radhi Jaidi concedes a free kick for a foul on Terry Gornell. Ian Goodison takes the direct free kick.
26:17 John Welsh concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam Lallana. Free kick taken by Bartosz Bialkowski.
24:53 Effort from outside the penalty area by John Welsh goes wide left of the target.
22:37 Chris Perry gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ian Goodison. Free kick taken by Luke Daniels.
22:02 Unfair challenge on Richard Lambert by Marlon Broomes results in a free kick. Lloyd James takes the direct free kick.
19:23 Zoumana Bakayogo concedes a free kick for a foul on Michail Antonio. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Lloyd James, Marlon Broomes makes a clearance.
18:40 Effort on goal by Craig Curran from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.
17:30 Free kick awarded for a foul by Michail Antonio on Ian Thomas-Moore. Luke Daniels takes the direct free kick.
15:14 Foul by Gareth Edds on Morgan Schneiderlin, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Bartosz Bialkowski.
11:41 Effort on goal by Ian Thomas-Moore from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
10:58 Zoumana Bakayogo fouled by Michail Antonio, the ref awards a free kick. Luke Daniels takes the free kick.
8:30 The ball is sent over by David Connolly, save by Luke Daniels.
4:51 Dan Harding gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Curran. John Welsh restarts play with the free kick.
4:15 David Connolly gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ian Goodison. Ian Goodison restarts play with the free kick.
3:57 The ball is swung over by John Welsh.
3:20 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Lloyd James, clearance by Ash Taylor.
1:05 Unfair challenge on Chris Perry by Terry Gornell results in a free kick. Bartosz Bialkowski takes the direct free kick.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
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