CHARLY Alcaraz and Che Adams scored as Saints ended 2023 on a high with a 2-1 win over Plymouth Argyle at St Mary's in the Championship.

Plymouth thought they had taken the lead early in the second half but Bali Mumba was given offside in controversial circumstances when he headed in Morgan Whittaker's cross.

Saints took full advantage in front of a watching Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as Alcaraz curled in from outside the box before Adams fired in a second.

A mistake by Gavin Bazunu gave the visitors hope in stoppage time as Ryan Hardie pulled a goal back but it was not enough to stop Saints winning seven in a row at home.

Manager Russell Martin sprung the changes for the final game of 2023 with Shea Charles, Will Smallbone, Alcaraz, and Adams all brought into the team.

Saints started off on the front foot and they thought they had the opening goal inside the first five minutes when Adams broke in behind to finish but he was ruled offside.

The confidence was flowing through the Saints players and Adam Armstrong almost caught out Conor Hazard from the half way line but his effort sailed just over the bar.

The visitors, who have not won away in the Championship all season, were struggling to deal with an in-form Saints side in the opening stages.

The hosts went close again when Taylor Harwood-Bellis flicked on Ryan Manning's excellent corner but the post denied the on-loan Manchester City defender.

Saints were looking to complete a first double over Plymouth Argyle for the first time since the 1965-66 campaign.

Neil Dewsnip's side grew more into the game after the half-hour mark, though, with St Mary's beginning to get more frustrated after not getting the opening goal they had hoped for.

The Pilgrims had their first venture forward late in the first half but Whittaker was denied by an excellent tackle by Samuel Edozie.

Hardie, who scored Plymouth's goal in their 2-1 defeat to Saints in August, came on for the visitors at halftime.

Saints suffered a scare at the start of the second half when Whittaker's neat footwork set up Mumba to head in, but the offside flag denied him.

Replays suggested the goal should have been given and the home side took full advantage within seconds.

Alcaraz received the ball on the edge of the area before curling an unstoppable shot into the top right corner which left Hazard with no chance.

And soon after it was 2-0 when Harwood-Bellis' ball over the top found Adams who took his time before firing into the bottom corner.

Hazard prevented Saints from adding a third in the closing stages as he denied A Armstrong and substitute Jack Stephens.

Plymouth pulled a goal back in added time when Bazunu was slack in possession and Hardie robbed him to give the visitors hope.

Ryan Fraser missed a late chance to give Saints a two-goal buffer but he was unable to beat Hazard when played through by Kyle Walker-Peters.

Saints remain third in the Championship after the win and they are next in action at Norwich City on New Year's Day.

Saints: Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning; Charles, Smallbone (S Armstrong, 68), Alcaraz (Aribo, 68); Edozie (Mara, 75), A Armstrong (Stephens, 62), Adams (Fraser, 68)

Unused Subs: Lumley, Holgate, Dibling, Amo-Ameyaw

Booked: Smallbone, Manning, Alcaraz

Plymouth Argyle: Hazard; Edwards, Pleguezuelo (Scarr, 71), Gibson, Galloway; Houghton (Cundle, 66), Randell, Azaz (Bundu, 78); Whittaker, Mumba (Miller, 66), Waine (Hardie, 46)

Unused Subs: Burton, Butcher, Wright, Kesler-Hayden

Booked: Mumba, Edwards

Referee: James Linington

Attendance: 30,559

Goals: Alcaraz 56'

Adams 63'

Hardie 91'