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Stern John cracked a second-half double and Marek Saganowski's header shortly before the interval ensured the Saints avoided the drop to League One.

The south coast side are well versed at beating relegation on the final day - in the Premier League they went into the last day of the season in danger of relegation four times during the 1990s.

But having dropped out of the top flight three years ago, they were staring down the barrel of third division football when Stephen Quinn put the Blades ahead.

Saganowski equalised and John fired Saints ahead at the start of a nerve-shredding second half, in which United substitute Jon Stead dragged his side level.

But John's 19th goal of the season, and comfortably the most important - means St Mary's will again be hosting Charlton, rather than Cheltenham, next term.

The striker's afternoon ended prematurely as he was sent off for a second yellow card 10 minutes from time, but the 10 men held out.

The win was only Nigel Pearson's third since he took over in February, but the man who was in charge of Carlisle when goalkeeper Jimmy Glass scored a last-gasp winner to save them from dropping out of the league can add another Great Escape to his CV.

Saints will also be meeting Sheffield United again next season after their lingering hopes of a play-off place were ended.

Whether Pearson will still be in charge remains to be seen, with former chairman Rupert Lowe poised to take over the club again in the coming weeks.