Saints tend to believe in miracles and for 68 agonising minutes at St Mary's, the dream of extending Southampton's unbroken stay in the top-flight to 28 years was still just alive.

Given hope by John O'Shea's early own goal, Southampton were technically out of the relegation zone at 3.11pm and stayed there even after Darren Fletcher's equaliser soon afterwards.

However, the gloom started to descend on the south coast soon after the interval as the survival act began to evaporate into thin air. Safety, it transpired, had been just a tantalising mirage.

West Brom's first goal at 4.19pm turned the tide against them even before Ruud van Nistelrooy's header ensured an 18th league defeat of the season.

And so, for the first time since the end of the 1970s, Southampton will be playing second-tier football next season.

What made matters even more painful was that, if Harry Redknapp's side had beaten United, they would have stayed up.

Then again, the real damage was plainly done well before Redknapp arrived in December as Saints were by then already suffering badly with just 12 points from 16 games.

Redknapp, with his angel lucky charm failing to achieve the impossible, may have ensured a glimpse of the promised land, but it was not to be - and the effects could be serious and long-lasting.

This will cost Southampton at least £25million and there is no guarantee of an early return if their best players, such as Peter Crouch, Antti Niemi and Nigel Quashie, are sold to ease the wage bill.

Southampton's previous durability in the top-flight had been ably demonstrated by the appearance of the 'Bandit Beatles' before kick-off - it was two years after Southampton's promotion back to the then First Division in 1978 that John Lennon was shot.

Southampton have been a rather poor reflection of their normal selves this season, while United were short of their best too, with Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gary Neville all rested ahead of the FA Cup final.

It had all started so promisingly, with even the town crier hired to lift the crowd and Southampton, with David Prutton back after his 10-game ban, seizing the lead on just 10 minutes.

Danny Higginbotham flicked Graeme Le Saux's corner past Roy Carroll, who was left grasping at thin air as the ball as the ball rebounded off Quashie's chest and bounced into the net off O'Shea's knee.

St Mary's was alive with hope, especially when Jamie Redknapp rounded Carroll and saw his cross only just elude Brett Ormerod, who was deputising for the suspended Crouch.

However, the home side's defence had conceded 24 goals in their previous nine games, and went absent without leave once again in the 18th minute.

O'Shea was allowed too much space down the left flank and crossed for Fletcher to head all too simply past the exposed figure of Niemi.

The Saints goalkeeper also had to tip a fierce drive by Ruud van Nistelrooy over the bar, while Niemi and Le Saux combined to clear O'Shea's shot off the goal-line.

Then again, Carroll similarly had to deny Henri Camara amid a frenetic encounter and Quashie flicked Le Saux's cross over the bar.

The Saints had to work tirelessly to hold United at bay but their determination was exemplified by captain Quashie in midfield and former United defender Higginbotham.

Then again, despite holding the advantage at half-time, Southampton still looked nervous in possession and all too easily gave the ball back to United.

They threatened on the break, with Ormerod snatching at one long-range shot before forcing Carroll to tip another effort over the bar.

But how quickly fortunes can change. Just as news started to filter through of West Brom taking the lead against arch-rivals Portsmouth, Southampton themselves fell behind.

With 61 minutes gone, their defence again lost concentration and when Smith teed up an inviting cross, van Nistelrooy was left in space to head past Niemi.

"One Bryan Robson," taunted the United fans. St Mary's, meanwhile, was utterly despondent and Redknapp senior turned to Kevin Phillips and Rory Delap for Le Saux and Prutton.

Southampton continued to live in hope, but it was sadly born out of desperation rather than reality as they searched for a lifeline.

Camara looped a header against the top of the crossbar, before the ball as clawed away by Carroll, while the striker raced clear only to place his shot wide at full-stretch.

Quashie's shot was also saved at full-stretch by Carroll but, in reality, two goals were required to stay up. They did not even get one and their fate was confirmed.

Teams

Southampton Niemi, Telfer, Lundekvam, Higginbotham, Bernard (Davenport 78), Prutton (Phillips 71), Redknapp, Quashie, Le Saux (Delap 71), Camara, Ormerod.

Subs Not Used: Smith, Oakley.

Booked: Lundekvam.

Goals: O'Shea 10 og.

Man Utd Carroll, O'Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Fortune, Fletcher, Giggs, Smith, Rooney (Saha 74), van Nistelrooy (Phil Neville 87).

Subs Not Used: Kleberson, Keane, Ricardo.

Booked: Brown, Silvestre.

Goals: Fletcher 19, van Nistelrooy 63.

Att: 32,066

Ref: S Bennett (Kent).