SAINTS thumped Plymouth 3-1 this afternoon to ensure that they will return to the Championship next season.

Rickie Lambert’s double, with a strike from Ryan Dickson sandwiched in between, means League One will soon become a distant memory.

There were scenes of wild celebration from the Saints fans, players and coaching staff at the final whistle.

Saints are now three points clear of Huddersfield with a game left to play, but their goal difference is so much better – by 17 to be exact – that there is no doubt they will now finish second.

The result also confirmed Plymouth's relegation to League Two.

Nigel Adkins made three changes from the side that beat Brentford 3-0 on Saturday.

The injured Dan Harding was replaced at left-back by Ryan Dickson, while Danny Butterfield came in for Frazer Richardson on the other side of defence.

Guly do Prado, who suffered a hamstring problem at Griffin Park, made way for Dale Stephens in midfield.

Plymouth made just one change to the team that lost 1-0 at Exeter two days ago – midfielder Rory Patterson coming in for Luke Summerfield.

Saints started quickest and Jose Fonte could have fired them in front as early as the second minute. But the defender, left free from Adam Lallana’s corner, couldn’t connect with his attempted volley from 12 yards out.

Plymouth had a big appeal for a penalty a minute later, as Yala Bolasie went down under Ryan Dickson’s challenge, but referee Andy Woolmer refused to award the spot kick.

Neither side was showing any inclination to sit back, as both teams looked for the win they desperately craved.

The fierce wind that was blowing around Home Park was causing problems for the players, though.

Lambert had a long range free-kick deflected over the bar, while Radhi Jaidi did well to divert Rory Fallon’s header from Jim Paterson’s left-wing cross behind for a corner.

Dale Stephens had a good opportunity midway through the half, as Lambert laid the ball off to him in space 25 yards out. But the midfielder’s low drive went wide of Plymouth keeper David Button’s post.

Butterfield should have done better in the 37th minute as the ball dropped to him just inside the box. He cut past one defender and shifted the ball onto his left foot, but sliced his shot high and wide from a promising position.

Jaidi and Karl Duguid got into a little confrontation just before half-time, after an aerial challenge on the edge of the box, as tension started to show.

The all-important breakthrough finally arrived for Saints a minute before the break.

Butterfield swung in a deep cross from the right, which was met by Lambert, who had peeled away to the back post. The striker held off his defender and placed a superb header back across goal and into the far corner.

Plymouth were fuming, insisting that Lambert had pushed his marker, but it was wild celebration for Saints – players, fans and coaching staff alike.

However, there were a few ugly scenes as trouble broke out in sections of the home stands, where some tickets had obviously been bought by Saints fans who couldn’t contain their delight.

Jaidi was booked as he felled Bolasie right on the edge of the area in injury time, but Patterson’s resulting free-kick was driven straight into the wall, before the referee blew for half-time.

Saints gave themselves a crucial piece of breathing room just three minutes after the restart.

Adam Lallana’s corner had been headed against the post by Jaidi, but the ball was eventually worked to Dickson, who stroked a left foot shot in off the post, after being picked out by David Connolly’s lay-off.

The goal again sparked a ruck in the same section of home supporters, with police and stewards having to wade in.

Adkins then made his first change, with Richard Chaplow coming off for Dan Seaborne, who went to left back, while Dickson moved into midfield.

Saints put the game beyond any doubt in the 59th minute, after they were awarded a penalty when Lambert was tripped in the box by Curtis Nelson.

Saints’ number seven picked himself up and fired in the spot kick to Button’s left, putting the visitors into an unassailable 3-0 lead.

Jaidi was taken off a few minutes later to be replaced by Aaron Martin at centre half.

Dean Hammond almost added a fourth with 20 minutes left, sliding in to meet Dickson’s low cross, but Button got down well to save.

Morgan Schneiderlin returned from a long injury lay-off in the 82nd minute, replacing Lallana.

Connolly’s audacious attempt from 35 yards with five minutes left beat Button, who was off his line, but came back off the underside of the bar.

Bolasie grabbed a late consolation deep into injury time for the Pilgrims, but the celebrations were muted at best.

Instead, as Woolmer blew the final whistle, it was Saints who were left to revel in their return to the Championship.