Goals from Jose Fonte and Rickie Lambert moved Southampton to within three points of second place as they overcame Sheffield Wednesday.
Fonte headed in Alex Chamberlain's corner to open the scoring.
Rickie Lambert put the game beyond doubt with a blistering half-volley after Lee Barnard's run and cross.
Saints could have extended their lead, but Adam Lallana only hit the post and Chamberlain's curler was superbly saved by Richard O'Donnell.
Southampton boss Nigel Adkins told BBC Radio Solent: "We knew it was going to be a tough team to break down but in the end we got a very good victory.
"We believe that we're a fit side and we're going to come strong at the end of the season.
"There's not going to be parity until the last game of the season, all we can do is affect what we do, focus on winning one game at a time and see where we end up."
Sheffield Wednesday manager Gary Megson told BBC Radio Sheffield: "We were alright for an hour, we were the same as Southampton, they probably edged it in the first hour.
"It just shows how important it is getting the first goal. Whenever we've scored first we win.
"We're in a battle to stop Sheffield Wednesday going into the last flight in England, which is a shocking statement."
90:00+3:25 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
90:00+3:12 Dan Harding takes a shot. Richard O'Donnell makes a save.
90:00+2:45 Mark Reynolds challenges Guly Do Prado unfairly and gives away a free kick. Danny Butterfield restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+2:45 Booking Mark Reynolds is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
89:37 Dan Harding fouled by Darren Potter, the ref awards a free kick. Kelvin Davis takes the direct free kick.
89:37 Substitution Daniel Seaborne on for Adam Lallana.
87:49 Giles Coke produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.
85:32 Substitution (Southampton) makes a substitution, with Jonathan Forte coming on for Lee Barnard.
84:21 Jermaine Johnson fouled by Dan Harding, the ref awards a free kick. Michael Morrison takes the direct free kick.
83:19 Jermaine Johnson produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
82:17 Giles Coke sends in a cross, Rob Jones takes a shot. Save made by Kelvin Davis.
81:57 Dan Harding challenges Jermaine Johnson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jermaine Johnson.
80:08 Substitution James O'Connor joins the action as a substitute, replacing Gary Teale.
77:54 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary Madine by Radhi Jaidi. Gary Teale restarts play with the free kick.
77:02 Corner taken right-footed by Adam Lallana, Header from close in by Richard Lambert misses to the right of the target.
76:34 Substitution Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain goes off and Guly Do Prado comes on.
76:21 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Save by Richard O'Donnell.
73:57 Richard Lambert takes a shot. Blocked by Richard Chaplow.
72:43 Substitution Tommy Miller leaves the field to be replaced by Darren Potter.
71:56 Dan Harding concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary Madine. Gary Teale crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, Dean Hammond manages to make a clearance.
71:12 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Reynolds. Richard O'Donnell restarts play with the free kick.
69:39 Gary Madine concedes a free kick for a foul on Jose Fonte. Jose Fonte restarts play with the free kick.
68:58 The ball is crossed by Dan Harding.
68:43 Effort from inside the box by Adam Lallana hits the post.
67:42 Tommy Miller gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Richard Chaplow. Direct free kick taken by Kelvin Davis.
66:31 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tommy Miller by Lee Barnard. Direct free kick taken by Gary Teale.
66:10 Lee Barnard challenges Mark Reynolds unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mark Reynolds takes the direct free kick.
65:07 GOAL - Richard Lambert:Southampton 2 - 0 Sheff Wed Richard Lambert gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Southampton 2-0 Sheff Wed.
63:32 Richard Chaplow gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gary Madine. Free kick crossed right-footed by Gary Teale from left wing, save made by Kelvin Davis.
62:54 The ball is swung over by Dean Hammond, Rob Jones manages to make a clearance.
62:24 A cross is delivered by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, clearance made by Danny Batth.
61:41 Unfair challenge on Lee Barnard by Mark Reynolds results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Danny Butterfield.
61:05 Substitution Jermaine Johnson replaces Isaiah Osbourne.
60:52 Dean Hammond has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide right of the goal.
60:24 Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Morrison on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Danny Butterfield restarts play with the free kick.
59:20 Corner taken right-footed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to the near post, assist on the goal came from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
59:20 GOAL - Jose Fonte:Southampton 1 - 0 Sheff Wed Jose Fonte scores a headed goal from close range. Southampton 1-0 Sheff Wed.
58:44 Lee Barnard takes a shot. Rob Jones gets a block in.
58:32 A cross is delivered by Dan Harding, clearance made by Danny Batth.
57:14 Richard Chaplow concedes a free kick for a foul on Giles Coke. Tommy Miller shoots direct from the free kick.
57:06 Gary Teale produces a cross, clearance by Danny Butterfield.
56:08 Corner taken right-footed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to the near post, clearance by Rob Jones.
54:34 Jose Fonte concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary Madine. Gary Teale takes the direct free kick.
52:24 Gary Madine produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
51:43 Jose Fonte gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Heffernan. Mark Reynolds restarts play with the free kick.
50:53 Corner from the right by-line taken by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, clearance by Rob Jones.
50:36 Dean Hammond takes a shot. Save by Richard O'Donnell.
50:25 Lee Barnard takes a shot. Rob Jones gets a block in.
49:38 Lee Barnard takes a shot. Save by Richard O'Donnell.
48:55 Corner taken short by Adam Lallana.
47:23 Corner taken right-footed by Gary Teale from the left by-line, clearance by Danny Butterfield.
46:38 Adam Lallana concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul Heffernan. Direct free kick taken by Michael Morrison.
45:01 The second half begins.
Half Time
45:00+1:04 The ref blows to end the first period.
45:00+0:47 Corner taken by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from the right by-line.
45:00+0:41 The ball is sent over by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, clearance made by Isaiah Osbourne.
45:00+0:22 Danny Batth gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Barnard. Adam Lallana takes the free kick.
43:09 Centre by Adam Lallana, save by Richard O'Donnell.
42:44 Adam Lallana delivers the ball, clearance made by Rob Jones.
42:14 Corner taken right-footed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from the right by-line, Isaiah Osbourne manages to make a clearance.
40:48 Free kick awarded for a foul by Dean Hammond on Gary Madine. Gary Teale produces a cross, Headed effort from inside the area by Rob Jones misses to the left of the target.
38:08 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that goes wide left of the target.
36:53 Dean Hammond gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Isaiah Osbourne. Tommy Miller takes the direct free kick.
35:26 Giles Coke crosses the ball, Radhi Jaidi makes a clearance.
34:19 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jose Fonte on Gary Madine. Gary Teale sends in a cross, Michael Morrison has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
33:38 Dan Harding delivers the ball, clearance by Mark Reynolds.
32:21 Isaiah Osbourne takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.
31:20 Mark Reynolds delivers the ball.
30:43 The ball is crossed by Gary Teale.
28:54 Gary Teale sends in a cross, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Gary Madine misses to the left of the goal.
26:33 Adam Lallana takes a shot. Richard O'Donnell makes a save.
25:43 Radhi Jaidi is caught offside. Richard O'Donnell takes the free kick.
24:59 Isaiah Osbourne concedes a free kick for a foul on Dean Hammond. Dan Harding takes the free kick.
24:09 Unfair challenge on Rob Jones by Richard Lambert results in a free kick. Richard O'Donnell takes the direct free kick.
23:17 Dean Hammond takes a shot. Rob Jones gets a block in.
20:34 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary Madine by Radhi Jaidi. Free kick crossed by Gary Teale.
20:17 Adam Lallana takes a shot. Richard O'Donnell makes a save.
19:34 The assistant referee signals for offside against Gary Madine. Free kick taken by Radhi Jaidi.
18:38 Centre by Isaiah Osbourne.
18:21 The ball is swung over by Danny Butterfield, clearance by Isaiah Osbourne.
18:15 Adam Lallana produces a cross.
16:56 Shot by Adam Lallana from just outside the area goes over the net.
16:26 Unfair challenge on Richard Lambert by Danny Batth results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Dan Harding.
10:50 Gary Teale crosses the ball, save made by Kelvin Davis.
9:30 The assistant referee flags for offside against Gary Madine. Danny Butterfield takes the free kick.
8:54 Danny Butterfield crosses the ball, save by Richard O'Donnell.
7:50 Foul by Lee Barnard on Rob Jones, free kick awarded. Richard O'Donnell takes the free kick.
7:11 Adam Lallana produces a cross.
6:53 The ball is delivered by Gary Teale, clearance made by Radhi Jaidi.
5:31 Richard Lambert fouled by Danny Batth, the ref awards a free kick. Richard Lambert fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save by Richard O'Donnell.
5:31 Booking Danny Batth booked for unsporting behaviour.
3:28 Gary Madine is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Kelvin Davis restarts play with the free kick.
3:14 Paul Heffernan crosses the ball, save by Kelvin Davis.
2:20 Unfair challenge on Jose Fonte by Gary Madine results in a free kick. Danny Butterfield takes the direct free kick.
2:00 Danny Butterfield sends in a cross, Michael Morrison gets a block in.
1:06 The offside flag is raised against Lee Barnard. Richard O'Donnell takes the free kick.
0:10 Paul Heffernan is caught offside. Kelvin Davis takes the free kick.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
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