SAINTS set a new club record for longest unbeaten run since joining the Football League in 1920 with a 3-1 win at Swansea City. 

Goals from Che Adams - his fourth in five league games, Will Smallbone - first since November - and Flynn Downes - first for the club - were enough.

Jamie Paterson had scored to make it 2-1 just before the half-time break but Downes struck against his former side in the 45th minute. 

The cushion looked like it would be needed despite complete domination from Saints with Gavin Bazunu required for some big saves. 

Russell Martin had taken off booked Taylor Harwood-Bellis for Jack Stephens after 59 minutes and the skipper was at fault for the concession of big chances.

However, Saints had done enough to record their biggest away win of the season and make it 20 league games without defeat. 

Martin went unchanged from last weekend's 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday, with new signing Joe Rothwell replacing Jayden Meghoma on the bench. 

It was set up to be an emotional afternoon for the Saints boss - returning to the side he departed in the summer.

Martin went over to greet everyone on the Swansea bench ahead of kick-off, still retaining so much admiration for his two-year home. 

However, his side were in search of entering second place in the Championship and setting a new club unbeaten run in the Football League in the process. 

They were ruthless from the start and took just six minutes to open the scoring, as Adams tapped into the open goal.

The striker's first-time pass started an indirect one-two with Stuart Armstrong, whose shot was diverted into the path of Adams. 

Saints nearly went two ahead when Carl Rushworth spilled Fraser's shot into the path of Adam Armstrong - but the keeper smothered excellently.

Smallbone did double the lead 10 minutes later despite a hint of offside from S Armstrong, who was again a provider of a tap-in from close range. 

Saints continued to cut Swansea open left and right, taking full advantage of the space left behind Williams' side - but they could not squeeze another past Rushworth.

Swansea did manage a response against the run of play; Paterson headed into an empty net after Bazunu had wiped out Jamal Lowe attempting to punch a cross.

Downes restored the two-goal lead just four minutes later, as the two sides entered first-half added time, with strike from outside the box on his birthday.

It took a touch off former Portsmouth man Lowe on its way in and Downes did not celebrate against his former side - but his teammates did plenty. 

It was no less than Saints deserved, managing 17 shots in total in the first half - more than their average of 15.7 a game in the Championship this season. 

Paterson went close to a second after the interval but Saints remained comfortable otherwise, with Martin making a defensive change on the hour mark.

Harwood-Bellis had been yellow carded in the 17th minute and Martin introduced skipper Stephens for the Mancunian. 

A Armstrong had the ball in the net for a fourth but it was ruled out for offside before Fraser fired over a free shot at the back post. 

Martin then issued a Saints debut, with Rothwell coming on in place of S Armstrong as part of a double change. 

Swansea nearly pulled within a goal of the dominant visitors when Stephens played a cross-box pass that was intercepted - but Jerry Yates hit the post from yards out.

Bazunu then saved a Paterson effort onto the woodwork before another top stop at the back post as the home side were resurgent in the final 10 minutes. 

Bazunu's final save - on a powerful long-range free-kick - rubber-stamped the win in seven minutes of added time.

Swansea City: Rushworth; Fulton (Allen, 75), Darling, Grimes, Lowe (Yates, 64), Paterson, Tymon, Cullen (Patino, 64), Wood, Ashby (Bolasie, 64), Humphreys. 

Unused subs: Fisher, Cooper, Pedersen, Naughton, Ogbeta.

Booked: Fulton.

Saints: Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis (Stephens, 59), Bednarek, Manning; Downes, Smallbone (Charles, 85), S Armstrong (Rothwell, 75); A Armstrong, Fraser, Adams (Mara, 75). 

Unused subs: Lumley, Holgate, Alcaraz, Amo-Ameyaw, Dibling.

Booked: Harwood-Bellis, Charles. 

Referee: Oliver Langford.