Two goals from Rickie Lambert gave the Saints some breathing space at the top of the Championship - as they easily dispatched of Crystal Palace.
Fellow promotion-chasers West Ham were held at home by Birmingham City, meaning Southampton would all but seal promotion to the Premier League with a win over Reading on Friday.
There may have been some doubts about Lambert's fitness during the 2-2 draw against Portsmouth, but the striker showed why he is the Championship's top scorer by adding his 25th and 26th league goals of the season.
Lambert thought he had opened the scoring from a corner, but the striker's header was ruled out after Jose Fonte fouled a Palace defender.
Five minutes before the break the visitors did take the lead. Once again, Palace failed to deal with a good ball in from Danny Butterfield and Lambert was on hand to easily head his side in front.
Dean Hammond's long-range drive narrowly missed the target as Saints looked for a second goal before the break. However, a good counter-attack from the hosts nearly produced an equaliser, when Chris Martin blazed over after a good move from Wilfried Zaha and Sean Scannell.
Southampton had all but tied up three points ten minutes into the second half. Jack Cork laid on the ball for Lambert who turned outside a Palace defender before lashing a powerful shot home.
Palace came more into the game as Southampton sat back. However, the best chance of the closing stages fell to the away side. Some absent defending from the hosts allowed both Fonte and substitute Guly do Prado headed chances at goal, but both could not beat Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni.
In the end, Southampton cruised to victory in which could have been a banana skin for Nigel Adkins' side. Southampton need seven points from their remaining four fixtures to win promotion to the Premier League. The toughest game of their run-in comes on Friday against second-placed Reading at St Mary's.
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