May 15, 2016 at 3pm UK at ​St Mary's Stadium
Attendance: 31,313
Southampton
4-1
Crystal Palace
Mane (43'), Pelle (61'), Bertrand (75' pen.), Davis (86')
Pelle (72')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Puncheon (64')
Ward (54'), McArthur (59')

Result: Southampton secure Europa League spot with Crystal Palace win

Southampton score four against Crystal Palace to secure a Europa League place.

Southampton have secured a Europa League place after they beat FA Cup finalists Crystal Palace in their final Premier League game of the season.

After a quiet start to the game at St Mary's, it was Saints who went close to breaking the deadlock as Dusan Tadic's effort flew across the face of goal.

Sadio Mane celebrates scoring during the Premier League game between Southampton and Crystal Palace on May 15, 2016© Getty Images

Two minutes later, the hosts stretched the Palace defence again as Sadio Mane latched on to a through-ball before sliding his shot just wide of Julian Speroni's goal.

Oriol Romeu tried his luck with a shot that hit the target, but failed to work Speroni before Virgil van Dijk grazed the crossbar with a header from a set piece.

Saints finally breached the Eagles' backline as Mane hooked the ball into the net after Speroni flapped when trying to clear a ball into the box.

Graziano Pelle celebrates scoring during the Premier League game between Southampton and Crystal Palace on May 15, 2016© Getty Images

Palace tried to respond immediately through Dwight Gayle, only for the forward's shot to be blocked by Fraser Forster.

Southampton doubled their lead on the hour mark as Graziano Pelle connected with Cuco Martina's cross and the Italian striker's looping header left Speroni helpless.

Palace responded with a thunderous strike from ex-Saints player Jason Puncheon as the Eagles looked to go into next weekend's FA Cup final on a positive note.

However, the hosts restored a two-goal advantage from Ryan Bertrand's penalty after Mane was fouled.

Southampton then made sure of victory and a place in Europe as Steven Davis netted a fourth and saw them leapfrog West Ham and guarantee European football for next season.

Ronald Koeman during the Premier League game between Aston Villa and Southampton on April 23, 2016
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CLeicester CityLeicester382312368363281
2Arsenal382011765362971
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs381913669353470
4Manchester CityMan City381991071413066
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd381991049351466
6Southampton381891159411863
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham381614865511462
8Liverpool3816121063501360
9Stoke CityStoke38149154155-1451
10Chelsea381214125953650
11Everton381114135955447
12Swansea CitySwansea381211154252-1047
13Watford38129174050-1045
14West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381013153448-1443
15Crystal Palace38119183951-1242
16Bournemouth38119184567-2242
17Sunderland38912174862-1439
RNewcastle UnitedNewcastle38910194465-2137
RNorwich CityNorwich3897223967-2834
RAston Villa3838272776-4917