Summary

  • Kick-off 20:00 BST

  • Southampton win their third game in a row to close the gap to second placed Leicester to four points.

  • Che Adams scored twice with Stuart Armstrong getting the third for Southampton

  • Preston fall to second consecutive loss and stay 10th

  • Southampton travel to Cardiff next in first of final four games.

Live Reporting

Alex Hoad and Katie Holloway

  1. 'Chasing shadows'

    Southampton 3-0 Preston

    Steve Eyre
    Co-commentator on BBC Radio Lancashire

    The phrase I was thinking was 'chasing shadows' but I had to check myself because Preston aren't chasing at all...

  2. goal

    GOAL: Southampton 3-0 Preston

    Stuart Armstrong (33 mins)

    Stuart Armstrong scoresRex Features

    Goodness me. Duane Holmes makes a hash of his clearance from a right-wing cross, he panics and pings it straight to Stuart Armstrong who is able to pick his spot from the edge of the box, whipping the ball inside the post giving Freddie Woodman no chance.

    Preston cannot live with this Saints side tonight.

  3. Southampton 2-0 Preston

    Che Adams saw Adam Armstrong's effort and fancied a crack himself, this time from the right, but with the same result, floating the ball just over the bar as Freddie Woodman scrambles to get back to his line.

  4. 'Southampton putting Preston to sleep'

    Southampton 2-0 Preston

    Steve Eyre
    Co-commentator on BBC Radio Lancashire

    It doesn't make pretty viewing. The shadow defending was evident again from Preston North End - it's almost like Southampton are putting them to sleep.

  5. goal

    GOAL: Southampton 2-0 Preston

    Che Adams (29 mins)

    Che Adams scores for SouthamptonRex Features

    And another...slick as you like. Che Adams flicks a pass to David Brooks then darts into the area to collect the return pass and sweeps past Freddie Woodman.

    Passing and moving and scoring. Saints at their best.

  6. 'Woodman laughed it off'

    Southampton 1-0 Preston

    Steve Eyre
    Co-commentator on BBC Radio Lancashire

    There's two things - not only that Adam Armstrong tried it but that he even saw it makes him a top class footballer.

    Freddie Woodman just laughed it off.

  7. SHOWBOAT

    Southampton 1-0 Preston

    Adam Armstrong. Wow. He is in the mood tonight.

    He's seen Freddie Woodman off his line in his peripheral vision and tried a near 40-yard lob without actually looking at the target.

    It sails a foot or so over the crossbar and skims the netting. Woodman's heart is going like the clappers at this moment, have no doubt.

    Would have been a special goal.

  8. Southampton 1-0 Preston

    Taylor Harwood-Bellis finds some space to meet Ryan Manning's subsequent curling free-kick but can only plant his downward header well wide of the far post.

  9. YELLOW CARD

    Southampton 1-0 Preston

    Duane Holmes is the second Preston man into the book after hauling down Adam Armstrong who is a problem down the left hand side.

    Ref Sam Barrott having a busy evening already.

  10. 'Shadow defending from Preston'

    Southampton 1-0 Preston

    Steve Eyre
    Co-commentator on BBC Radio Lancashire

    There's been a passage of play, or at least a trail, where Southampton were starting to show more adventure in the penalty area so it's been coming.

    I can only describe Preston North End's defending at that point as shadow defending. They need to consider not even scoring in the last 10 minutes and tightening up. It doesn't help that the manager has a yellow card.

  11. Southampton 1-0 Preston

    The pressure continues. Southampton, as they so often do, are dominating possession and have pinned Preston back in their own half.

    Saints do also have a habit of letting teams back into games, however. Russell Martin will want to avoid any such drama tonight.

  12. goal

    GOAL: Southampton 1-0 Preston

    Che Adams (19 mins)

    Che Adams scores for SouthamptonRex

    Saints have their goal. Adam Armstrong pulls away at the far post and collects a David Brooks pass before firing in a low cross which Che Adams converts with a neat side-foot from close range.

    That's his 100th club goal. He won't have scored too many more important. That's 16 in all competitions this season and 13 assists from Adam Armstrong

  13. Southampton 0-0 Preston

    Flynn Downes makes the most of a couple of lucky breaks to jink his way into the area and then prod to Ryan Manning but the Saints man is outmuscled on the byline.

    Saints fans appeal but nothing doing.

  14. Southampton 0-0 Preston

    Preston have the chance to swing a free-kick into the Saints area through Robbie Brady, but Flynn Downes is able to head clear.

    Joe Aribo is then fouled by Noah Mawene, who is already on a yellow, remember... one to watch.

  15. Southampton 0-0 Preston

    Che Adams is the latest to have a sight of goal, darting in towards the near post to meet a fierce cross from Armstrong on the left but he can only lash his volley high and very wide off the outside of his right foot.

    An incredibly difficult chance goes begging but Adams is clearly keen on a fourth goal in five games tonight.

  16. Southampton 0-0 Preston

    Ryan Manning and Stuart Armstrong play the ball from left to right across the Preston penalty area before a low curler from Kyle Walker-Peters is charged down by a defender.

    Looks like it's going to be a physically and mentally tiring night for the North End backline.

  17. 'Preston have the same space'

    Southampton 0-0 Preston

    Steve Eyre
    Co-commentator on BBC Radio Lancashire

    Southampton make the pitch really big for themselves but the same space they make for themselves, they have to defend against Preston North End.

    It's a patient build-up from Southampton as you've come to expect but Preston have the same amount of space.

  18. Southampton 0-0 Preston

    Nice counter from Preston, spreading the play from the left full-back across to the right wing, Duane Holmes sends in a low pass for Mads Frokjaer but Alex McCarthy - on his Championship debut for Saints - holds at his near post at the second attempt.

  19. Southampton 0-0 Preston

    Adam and Stuart Armstrong already linking up neatly down the Saints left.

    Preston seem content to pack men behind the ball, to be expected away at Southampton I suppose. The Lilywhites - in all yellow tonight - have been hard to break down on their travels of late.

  20. Southampton 0-0 Preston

    Some typically intricate build-up play from Southampton ends with the home fans urging Kyle Walker-Peters to shooooot from 25-yards.

    He did so at Deepdale in the reverse fixture and scored a worldie. This one sails into the stands.