SAINTS managed a dramatic 11th hour escape from the drop by coming from behind to beat Sheffield United 3-2 at St Mary's.
Stern John cracked a second-half double and Marek Saganowski's header shortly before the break ensured the Saints avoided relegation to League One.
Saints are past masters at beating relegation on the final day - in the Premier League they went into the last day of the season in danger of relegation four times during the 1990s.
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But having dropped out of the top flight three years ago, they were staring third division football in the face when Stephen Quinn put the Blades ahead.
Saganowski equalised and John fired Saints ahead at the start of a tense second half. United substitute Jon Stead pulled his side back on to even terms but John's 20th goal of the season, and unquestionably the most important - means St Mary's will again be hosting Charlton, rather than Cheltenham, next term.
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