Saints keep automatic hopes alive with Coventry win

Southampton ended a three-game winless run as two first-half goals gave them victory over Coventry City to keep their faint hopes of Championship automatic promotion alive.

Adams scored his 12th goal of the season 20 minutes later, turning home from close range after a Taylor Harwood-Bellis header across goal.

Play-off chasing Coventry were unable to launch a comeback, despite a second-half Jake Bidwell goal.

Wright had the chance to give the Sky Blues an early lead from the penalty spot, but he slipped on his final step and the ball hit the bar.

Mark Robins' side missed a big opportunity to move closer to the play-off spots - they are now five points behind sixth-placed Norwich City.

Southampton appeared to have stumbled in a vital moment in their promotion chase, drawing with Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough and losing to Ipswich Town in a run of two wins in seven games.

Russell Martin's side found a much-needed victory, however, after a solid first-half showing.

Walker-Peters scored from outside the box with a fine finish before Adams struck with a typical poacher's goal.

Adams was perfectly placed as Harwood-Bellis' header found the Scotland international inside the six-yard area, after a cross from the right.

With the win, which extends a 16-year winning run over the Sky Blues, the Saints are now nine points off third-placed Ipswich, with a game in hand.

Southampton manager Russell Martin told BBC Radio Solent:

"I thought we played some great stuff, we played with real energy in the first half, and should have scored a few more.

"We had a 10-15 minute spell which led to us conceding a goal, when we weren't tidy enough with the ball, and we had a bit of anxiety after a tough few weeks.

"I was really proud of the players. It was a tough night against a good team, we knew it was going to be difficult. We had to show a different side to us at the end.

"We needed that, we got over the line in the end. I was getting fed up with people questioning us and how together we are. I said I didn't want any questions on how much we run for each other, and I got that."

Coventry manager Mark Robins told BBC CWR:

"The first half killed us really, we didn't start well at all. Hitting the bar with the penalty just told the story of the first half, we got dragged around, we looked leggy.

"If we're aspiring to be a team operating at the top end of the division, we have to be better than that. You have to grind performances out, even against good opponents.

"We spoke at half-time, and the players decided it was going to be better. We won the second half, but it's no consolation because of what happened in the first half.

"We were much, much better then, we created one or two openings, and were far more positive, which meant we were in the game."