SAINTS produced one of their performances of the season as Adam Armstrong provided three assists in a 4-0 thrashing of Sheffield Wednesday.

Che Adams opened the scoring in the first half as the St Mary's side were dominant in front of more than 30,000 supporters.

Armstrong got a goal of his own after the break before turning provider again to set up Ryan Fraser and Sekou Mara. 

It meant Russell Martin's side went 19 matches unbeaten in the Championship and moved up to second in the table for the first time this season.

Most of Southampton's stars had more than a week of recovery since their last outing following FA Cup action last weekend. 

Only Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Will Smallbone and Fraser kept their places from the rotated side that beat Walsall 4-0 last time out. 

All Saints players and staff entered the arena wearing black armbands following the passing of 1976 FA Cup winner Mel Blyth. 

Sheffield Wednesday arrived third in the form table with 15 points since December - and the supporters matched that with voice.

They were almost sent in to raptures when Gavin Bazunu administered a loose touch and saw his scrambled clearance intercepted - but Jan Bednarek was on hand to clear. 

 The Irishman's error was unforced, although Martin was right about the way Wednesday would play under former Saints assistant Danny Rohl. 

They maintained constant pressure on the ball carrier while taking full advantage of the dark arts to slow down play.

Fraser had a volley he struck into the ground cleared off the line before Will Smallbone was denied a penalty for a sliding challenge in the opening stages.

However, Adams opened the scoring after 36 minutes as A Armstrong fired a Kyle Walker-Peters throw-in into the area.

It should have been cut out but the Scotland international shifted the ball onto his left foot and slotted in for his seventh league goal of the season. 

Walker-Peters then went close himself but was well denied by last weekend's double-penalty-saving goalkeeper Cameron Dawson. 

Saints kept 70 per cent of the ball in the first half and limited Wednesday to only one shot, before they struck the fatal blow in the 63rd minute.

After a nervy but slick passage out the back, Stuart Armstrong - fed by Adams - squared across for his namesake to finish low one-on-one. 

Number nine Armstrong then turned back provider with an excellent pick-out to set Fraser up for a trademark first-time finish for the third. 

Martin could relax and make first changes - with under 15 minutes of regulation time left - and youngsters Sekou Mara and Charly Alcaraz entered the fray.

Mara tapped in for the goal of the afternoon after an intricate passage on the edge of the area allowed Armstrong to slide across for his third assist.

Martin then handed a league debut to academy product Tyler Dibling, who was left out of the under-21 fixture at Snows Stadium the night before.

St Mary's sang his name and the 17 year old was immediately on the attack, seeing his first shot blocked behind. 

Saints: Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek (Stephens, 83), Manning; Downes, Smallbone (Charles, 83), S Armstrong (Alcaraz, 77); A Armstrong, Fraser (Dibling, 87) Adams (Mara, 77).

Unused subs: Lumley, Holgate, Amo-Ameyaw, Meghoma.

Booked: Bednarek, Downes, A Armstrong.

Sheff Wed: Dawson; Palmer (Valentin, 81), Diaby, Bannan, Windass (Wilks, 81), Bernard (Famewo, 81), Johnson, Ihiekwe, Gassama, Cadamarterei (Fletcher, h-t), Musaba (Vaulks, h-t).

Unused subs: Beadle, Smith, James, Diaby. 

Booked: Bernard, Bannan, Ihiekwe.

Referee: Lewis Smith.