TAKE THAT: James Beattie celebrates his goal against Wimbledon on Saturday.

NOW let's do it one more time! Saints are just one victory away from safety and manager Dave Jones knows his players are fired up for the challenge.

Their 2-0 win at Wimbledon has left their fate in their own hands. Victory over Everton at The Dell on Sunday will secure top flight football for a 22nd successive season.

But they will have to go sweat it out right to the final day for the fourth time in six years thanks to Charlton's stunning last-gasp victory at Aston Villa.

Alan Curbishley's battlers are almost certain to win their final game at home to Sheffield Wednesday which means Saints have to get three points to be sure of safety - but Jones is more than happy with that prospect.

The delighted boss said: "All we have ever wanted is to have our fate in our own hands on the last day of the season and this terrific win has given us that.

"It would have been nice if Charlton had drawn because then we could have been safe before our final game but in fairness to them it was a terrific result.

"It was a bit of a sickener to hear they had got a last-minute winner but if they lead four times at Villa Park they deserve the points.

"In any case it is not about them. It is down to us. If we win we stay up - it is as simple as that. This is what we have worked so hard for all season and we have got ourselves in a strong position. Now we have to make it count.

"It is ironic that we are playing my former club Everton. Hopefully the Bluenoses will do us a favour - but I can't see it!

"You have to earn any win in the Premiership as we did at Wimbledon. We rode our luck at times but once Francis Benali cleared off the line just before half-time I could not see them scoring.

"The back five were superb. We were totally focused on what we had to do and we now need to do it one more time for the fans who were absolutely magnificent. The noise was deafening."

Hero yet again was Matthew Le Tissier who played through a calf strain as he came on as substitute to make one and score the second direct from a corner.

He said: "Our fate is in our own hands for the first time this season so we have only ourselves to blame now if we don't stay up. Hopefully now I can get in a full week's training so I will be raring to go against Everton."

At first Hassan Kachloul was credited with turning in Le Tissier's corner but he admitted: "I did not touch it. It may have deflected in off Robbie Earle but I'm not claiming it.

"I am just delighted we won for the fans who were unbelievable. It was amazing to see so many in fezes for me and it gave me a real lift. At least we have our fate in our own hands and we now have to concentrate totally to make sure we do not slip up against Everton."

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.