Marians Pahars, the man billed as the Latvian Michael Owen, scored twice as
Southampton pulled off the great escape.
The Saints will begin next season in the Premiership, their 22nd in the top
flight in a row, after Pahars struck either side of half-time to give his side
victory.
Southampton looked doomed when they took just one point from their first seven
games of the campaign but they steadily hauled themselves nearer to safety and
today they completed their salvage operation.
Matt Le Tissier, for so long the Saints' saviour, was at the heart of
everything, particularly in the first half, but it was Pahars who set them on
the way to victory in what was locally regarded as the biggest game in the
club's 114-year history.
Southampton battled for six weeks to get a work permit for Latvian striker
Pahars and they only completed their £800,000 signing for the 22-year-old, who
was previously at Skonto Riga, on deadline day.
But he came off the bench to grab a late equaliser against Blackburn soon
after joining and today he scored two goals which will be worth much more than
any single strike Owen has managed so far in his career.
The match had been level for 24 tense minutes, and Francis Jeffers had just
missed a gilt-edged chance for Everton, when Pahars pounced.
James Beattie did well to leap above Craig Short and Dave Watson to help on
Jason Dodd's long pass and Pahars - who was in plenty of space - did well to
steady himself before firing a fierce 12-yard drive beyond Thomas Myhre to send
the majority of the 15,254 fans at The Dell into ecstasy.
Southampton had opportunities to go further ahead, notably when the impressive
Mark Hughes somehow nodded over from three yards after escaping his marker,
before Pahars put the result beyond any doubt on 68 minutes.
Chris Marsden robbed Olivier Dacourt - who was disappointing in what could be
his final Everton appearance - and fed Beattie, whose superb cross was headed
home by a diving Pahars from close range.
The little striker was given a standing ovation when he was substituted 10
minutes from time as the home fans saluted their new hero; the man who had
ensured Manchester United, Arsenal and co will again have to visit The Dell next
season.
Southampton had been in the relegation zone from the second week of the season
until May 1 but like a supreme long-distance runner, they have produced their
sprint finish at exactly the right time.
Their home record has been formidable, winning seven of their last 10 League
matches and not losing at The Dell since Boxing Day.
They have ended the season with three victories, including last week's 2-0
triumph at Wimbledon, and taking 11 points from a possible 15 has kept them up
again.
Shirts bearing the slogan "The Great Escape 99" were being sold outside the
ground before and after the game, and for the third time in six years they have
defied the pundits and stayed up on the last day of the campaign.
But for all their close shaves down the seasons since being promoted to the
top flight in 1978, rarely can they have been more desperate to avoid
relegation.
They have finally received planning permission for a new 25,000-seater stadium
to be built at a site in St Mary's - where the club was founded in 1885 - at a
cost of £30million.
Their ability to pay for the ground, which they hope to move to in time for
the start of the 2000-01 season, is heavily dependent on them being in the
Premiership, so they could not afford to begin the next Millennium in the
Nationwide League.
But the way they went about their job today meant there was little chance of
them dropping into Division One, such was their dominance.
Everton, who stayed up on the final day of last season, were second best
throughout, with only Jeffers' early shot - when he shot wide from 12 yards - to
show for their efforts.
By then Le Tissier had gone close twice, with one brilliant volley from the
edge of the 'D' flashing just wide with Myhre beaten.
But Pahars' goal calmed Southampton nerves and when he doubled their lead the
game was as good as won, with Everton unable to fight back.
Saints had to win to ensure they stayed up, with Charlton able to overtake the
south coast club if they triumphed and Dave Jones' side drew or lost.
But events at The Valley were rendered irrelevant by Southampton's victory as
their fans left the ground toasting Pahars and looking forward to another season
of Premiership football.
Teams:
Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Benali, Marsden, Monkou, Lundekvam,
Le Tissier (Ostenstad 85), M. Hughes, Beattie,Pahars (Beresford 80), Kachloul.
Subs Not Used: D. Hughes, Hiley, Moss.
Booked: Le Tissier, Marsden, Pahars.
Goals: Pahars 24, 68.
Everton: Myhre, Weir, Short (Bakayoko 62), Watson, Unsworth,
Ball, Hutchison, Dacourt, Gemmill (Degn 73), Campbell,Jeffers (Cadamarteri 62).
Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Ward.
Booked: Hutchison.
Att: 15,254
Ref: G Barber (Pyrford).
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