Report: Saints cruise to victory to boost promotion hopes

Saints’ relentless run of form showed no signs of stopping against a Blackburn side who offered very little throughout, as first-half goals from Cyle Larin and Ryan Manning did the bulk of the damage, helping extend the team’s unbeaten run to 18 matches with a seventh successive win.

Rovers rattled the woodwork in the closing stages through substitute Ryōya Morishita, but Cameron Archer got the goal his performance deserved with a late third to seal the deal.

More good news followed from Fratton Park, of all places, where second-placed Ipswich were beaten, as Saints moved up to fourth and within six points of the Tractor Boys, who still have to visit St Mary’s in two weeks’ time.

Tonda Eckert continued to rotate his side, making five changes to the team that started Saturday’s comeback win over Derby, including a revamped midfield and attack.

Cameron Bragg partnered Shea Charles, who was facing his international manager, in the engine room, while Kuryu Matsuki, Archer and Larin also earned recalls.

Flynn Downes, Caspar Jander, Leo Scienza and Ross Stewart dropped to the bench, but Finn Azaz was unable to shake off a knock and missed out on a place in the squad, as Jay Robinson was named among the substitutes for the first time since January.

Blackburn head coach Michael O’Neill usually enjoys the sight of Charles powering through midfields, but it would have been a cause for concern for the Northern Ireland boss when Sean McLoughlin and Taylor Gardner-Hickman both went into the book inside the first seven minutes – both for cynical fouls on Charles when his footwork deceived them.

Shea Charles is dragged down by Taylor Gardner-Hickman early on

The forward-thinking Charles set the tone for a fast start from the hosts. Archer, playing on the left, looked a threat as he fired an early warning shot over the bar before flashing a dangerous low ball across goal.

Then Larin forced the first save from goalkeeper Aynsley Pears, rising to meet James Bree’s far-post corner with a downward header Pears did well to repel.

Pears made another stooping stop to keep out Matsuki’s low curler, but it was the Japanese who prised open the Blackburn defence as Saints made the breakthrough 25 minutes in.

Matsuki’s piercing pass inside right-back Ryan Alebiosu released the run of Archer in behind, and the former Aston Villa man, already looking sharp, got himself an assist with another inviting low cross that this time got the finish it deserved as Larin stole in to score from close range.

The Canadian immediately acknowledged the contribution of Archer, who put the ball on a plate for Saints’ No 9 to score his sixth goal in 15 games in red and white – only nine of which have been starts.

Cyle Larin taps home to open the scoring at St Mary's

Archer might have had a goal himself soon after, finding himself in more familiar poaching territory inside the box to meet Manning’s low cross to force another save from Pears.

Saints were incredibly comfortable in the game, which was being played almost entirely in the Blackburn half.

The only thing missing was a second goal, but that was about to change as Manning doubled the lead two minutes before the interval, increasing his career-best goal tally for a season with his seventh of the campaign.

This time Bragg was the initiator, winning the ball near the left touchline and setting midfield partner Charles off on a run along the byline.

When his low cross was met by a scuffed clearance, Manning reacted quickest to steer the ball into the far corner with his right foot, helped by a minor deflection, to leave Saints in cruise control.

Saints celebrate Ryan Manning's goal to double the lead

Having seen his side restricted to just 36 per cent possession and not a single attempt at goal, on or off target, O’Neill made a double change at the break, introducing Japanese duo Yuki Ōhashi and Morishita, as Nathan Redmond’s return to St Mary’s was cut short.

Eckert also made a change, resting Bree for the second half as Nathan Wood was introduced, prompting Taylor Harwood-Bellis to shift across to right-back.

Harwood-Bellis nearly had seven goals of his own when his shot was blocked early in the second period after Archer, hungry to score himself, had turned down the chance to tee him up.

Rovers did improve in the second half, as McLoughlin finally forced a save from Peretz 20 minutes from time, rising to meet a right-wing corner, but Saints should have had the game sewn up after great work from Larin to set up Matsuki, who inexplicably blazed over with all the time in the world and the goal at his mercy.

Matsuki was among the trio replaced straight after, as Welington, Downes and Scienza were introduced.

Saints’ most notable scare arrived when Ōhashi stung the palms of Peretz with a 20-yard drive, before compatriot Morishita thundered a shot against the post on the follow-up, but this was another successful night’s work for Eckert’s ever-improving Saints, capped by Archer’s low finish from Scienza’s cutback four minutes from time.

Southampton: Peretz, Bree (Wood 46), Harwood-Bellis, Stephens (c), Manning (Welington 71), Bragg (Downes 71), Charles, Fellows, Matsuki (Scienza 71), Archer (Robinson 87), Larin.

Subs not used: Long, Jander, Edozie, Stewart.

Goals: Larin (25’), Manning (43’), Archer (86’).

Blackburn Rovers: Tóth, Atcheson, McLoughlin (c), Pickering (Cashin 78), Alebiosu (Morishita 46), Baradji (Hedges 73), Gardner-Hickman, Ribeiro, Montgomery, Redmond (Ōhashi 46), Jørgensen (Afolayan 73).

Subs not used: Pears, O’Riordan, De Neve, Joseph.

Booked: McLoughlin, Gardner-Hickman.

Attendance: 25,571.

Referee: Josh Smith.