Saints' highest-scoring league wins

9-3 v Wolverhampton Wanderers (second division), The Dell, September 1965

Saints’ highest-scoring win since the war set the tone for a season that saw them promoted to the top-flight of English football for the first time, as runners-up behind Manchester City. After going behind to a first-minute Tony Knapp own goal they roared into a 5-2 half-time lead. The 12 goals were all scored within the hour. Martin Chivers hit four of them, wingers Terry Paine and John Sydenham netted in each half and George O’Brien was also on the scoresheet. Saints would have hit double figures but for the Wolves goalkeeper, who was outstanding.

8-0 v Sunderland (Premier League), St Mary’s, October 2014

Today’s extraordinary result at St Mary’s is the first occasion Saints have scored more than six goals in the Premier League and is the biggest margin of victory in the club's history, equalling an 8-0 win against Northampton Town on Christmas Eve, 1921.  Two own goals, Graziano Pelle's brace, first Saints goals for Dusan Tadic and Sadio Mane and one apiece for Jack Cork and Victor Wanyama made it happen. Only Chelsea (23) have scored more than Saints (19) in the Premier League this season. Just as importantly, Saints' fourth clean sheet of the season means they have the top-flight's best defensive record. 

8-2 v Coventry City (first divison), The Dell, April 1984

The only other occasion Saints have hit eight goals in the top flight. A David Armstrong header gave Saints a 28th-minute lead before hat-tricks from Danny Wallace and Steve Moran, who scored his treble in the second half, and a Frank Worthington header completed the rout. It came midway through a nine-match unbeaten run under Lawrie McMenemy that saw Saints finish in their highest-ever league position as runners-up, just three points behind Liverpool.

7-0 v Bournemouth & BA (division three south), October 1957

Brian Clifton gave Saints a seventh-minute lead but the rest of the goals came in the second half. Clifton, John Walker and John Hoskins all scored twice, with a thrilling run from the latter providing the opportunity for Derek Reeves to net one of his 31 goals that season.

7-1 v Coventry City (division three south), The Dell, February 1958

Two goals apiece for Don Roper, Derek Reeves and John Hoskins and a late, long-range Tommy Traynor strike gave Saints their third seven-goal haul of that season. A Reeves header ensured a 1-0 half-time lead but the rest of the goals were scored in the last half hour. Saints finished fifth in division three (south) that year.

7-2 v Scunthorpe United (second division), The Dell, January 1964

Saints took an early lead through Ken Wimshurst but it was 1-1 at half-time. John Sydenham restored the lead at the beginning of the second half following a Terry Paine dribble and an own goal extended the advantage before Martin Chivers struck twice either side of goals from George Kirby and David Burnside. Saints finished fifth in division two.

7-3 v Norwich City (division three south), The Dell, December 1957

Derek Reeves and Don Roper both scored twice to give Saints a 4-2 half-time lead. Terry Paine netted two in seven second-half minutes before John Hoskins completed the scoring with a 70th-minute header.

6-3 v Manchester United (Premier League), The Dell, October 1996

Saints have scored six league goals many times but this is the only other occasion they have scored more than five in a Premier League match. After Eyal Berkovic gave Saints sixth-minute lead, Matt Le Tissier scored the pick of them, an audacious chip over Peter Schmeichel after going past Brian McClair and David May. With United down to ten men following Roy Keane’s sending off for a rash 21st-minute challenge, David Beckham pulled a goal back. But Egil Ostenstad put Saints 3-1 up on the stroke of half-time. May made it 3-2 just before the hour and there were four goals in a madcap last seven minutes. Berkovic volleyed in his second from 20 yards before teeing up Ostenstad to put Saints 5-2 up. Paul Scholes pulled one back but then Gary Neville diverted Ostenstad’s shot into the net to complete a famous win.

Information courtesy of In That Number: a post-war chronicle of Southampton FC