Benito Carbone took a little of the Sheffield limelight as he secured the three points that virtually guarantee Premier League football at Hillsborough next season.

Neighbours United will bask in FA Cup glory tomorrow, but Carbone stole the honours today with his 78th minute winner against Southampton.

After failing to break down a resolute Saints defence for two thirds of the game it looked as if Ron Atkinson's side were heading for a goalless stalemate - much to the embarrassment of Mark Pembridge and Peter Atherton who both missed simple first-half chances to seal the win.

But a mixture of poor finishing and quick defensive thinking had denied both men.

But after a neat one-two with Italian compatriot Paolo Di Canio 12 minutes from time Carbone became the hero when he lashed home his ninth goal of the season from 15 yards into Paul Jones' top left corner.

Wednesday had dominated the first period but were guilty of failing to score from clear-cut chances.

Pembridge was the first offender in the 10th minute. Di Canio played a brilliant ball to Carbone on the right flank but as his cross came over Saints midfielder David Hughes slipped in the area as he prepared to clear. The ball fell to the feet of the Welsh international but with the goal begging Pembridge fired wide.

Then 12 minutes later Atherton wasted another golden opportunity after good work from Di Canio had found the Wednesday skipper in acres of space in the Saints area. Atherton composed himself but that allowed Klaus Lundekvam to race across goal to block.

The rebound returned to the feet of Atherton but this time Saints keeper Jones stretched out his left hand to palm the ball away.

Four minutes earlier Southampton striker Egil Ostenstad had outpaced Andy Hinchcliffe but his touch was poor and he was forced into an acute angle before firing wide of Kevin Pressman's goal.

But it was still all Wednesday. Striker Andy Booth saw a 27th minute header from three yards out crash back off the crossbar after Dejan Stefanovic had flicked on Di Canio's cross.

Then in the dying minutes of the half debut boy Goce Sedloski should have made a goalscoring Hillsborough start. But the pace of Stefanovic's ball across goal was too quick for the Macedonian international who failed to connect at the far post.

The Yorkshire side kept up their relentless beat in the second period.

And two minutes after the break Carbone met Earl Barrett's cross on the volley from eight yards out but he failed to keep his shot down and the ball flew into the Kop behind Jones.

Just three minutes later Andy Booth and the home crowd were screaming for a penalty when Kevin Richardson blocked a shot by the former Huddersfield man with his body. But referee Peter Jones ignored the pleas of the Wednesday man and waved play on.

Southampton favourite Matt Le Tissier had failed to impress throughout the game and his 58th minute substitution in place of leading goalscorer Kevin Davies came as no surprise.

What was a shock however was that Davies' first attempt on goal almost came at his own end of the field.

The young striker dribbled towards goal with Booth breathing down his neck. He reached the edge of the area where Saints keeper Jones took the situation into his own hands and belted the ball clear.

Then 12 minutes from time Wednesday's dominance and perseverance eventually gained their just rewards.

Di Canio fed Carbone in the area after a neat one-two between the two men had broken down Saints John Beresford and Francis Benali.

Carbone forged into the area and although Jones got a hand to his 15-yard shot he could do nothing to prevent it reaching its final destination - the top left-hand corner of his goal.

Teams

Sheff Wed: Pressman, Atherton, Pembridge (Whittingham 71), Walker, Carbone, Booth, Di Canio, Stefanovic, Hinchcliffe, Sedloski, Barrett.

Subs Not Used: Hyde, Clarke, Thome, Magilton.

Goals: Carbone 78.

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Lundekvam, Le Tissier (Davies 58), Ostenstad, Dryden, Beresford, Benali, Richardson (Williams 85), Hughes, Hirst.

Subs Not Used: Monkou, Moss, Gibbens.

Booked: Lundekvam.

Att: 29,677

Ref: P Jones (Loughborough).