Southampton's relegation fears deepened as they tumbled to a fourth straight Coca-Cola Championship defeat against Plymouth at Home Park.

Rory Fallon fired the hosts ahead late in the first half and Luke Summerfield doubled their advantage from the penalty spot shortly after the interval.

Jan Poortvliet's Saints remain one place outside the bottom three, but are now just two points off the foot of the table and facing up to a long, hard winter.

Victory also eased Plymouth's fears of getting sucked into the battle to beat the drop following a run of six games without a win.

The Pilgrims were only denied an early lead by a superb double save from Saints goalkeeper Kelvin Davis.

The former Sunderland man kept out Chris Clark's initial effort and then somehow recovered to claw Fallon's follow-up header from underneath the crossbar.

Moments later it was Saints who almost took the lead, but Romain Larrieu pulled off a fine save to deny young striker David McGoldrick.

But Plymouth went ahead in the 38th minute when Craig Noone latched onto a poor defensive clearance and swung the ball into the six-yard box from where an unmarked Fallon planted a firm header past Davis and into the net.

It was Fallon's fifth goal of the season, marking the striker's return to the side following a suspension in style.

And four minutes after the break Argyle's lead was doubled, courtesy of Summerfield's second goal of the season.

Saints defender Olly Lancashire was adjudged to have handled Fallon's shot, and after the visitors' protests had died down Summerfield stepped up to send Davis the wrong way from the spot.

Eight minutes later Noone, enjoying a lively full home debut, thumped a shot against the post

Summerfield's superb pass then sent substitute Jamie Mackie scampering through on goal, but Davis did well to kept out the midfielder's first-time shot.

For Saints, Ryan Smith drilled an ambitious long-range effort over the crossbar and Lancashire headed wide from Andrew Surman's corner, but Plymouth were not unduly troubled to leave Poortvliet with plenty to ponder ahead of Sunday's tough trip to Reading.

Teams:

Plymouth Larrieu, McNamee, Cathcart, Seip, Barker, Clark, Summerfield, Duguid, Noone (Mackie 66), Gallagher (MacLean 71),Fallon.

Subs Not Used: Timar, Puncheon, Folly.

Booked: MacLean.

Goals: Fallon 38, Summerfield 52 pen.

Southampton Davis, James, Cork, Lancashire, Skacel, Gillett (Paterson 58), Gobern, Surman, Smith (Pearce 87),Holmes (McLaggon 58), McGoldrick.

Subs Not Used: Forecast, Mills.

Booked: Davis, Lancashire, Skacel.

Att: 12,756

Ref: Roger East (Wiltshire).