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Shane Long celebrates after scoring Southampton's third goal against Wolves. Mark Kerton

Long scores again as Southampton fend off Wolves to move closer to safety

The Ireland striker has netted in back-to-back Premier League games for the first time in nearly three years.

SOUTHAMPTON’S SHANE LONG scored in consecutive Premier League games for the first time since May 2016 to seal a 3-1 win over Wolves, as the Saints climbed to the verge of survival today at St Mary’s Stadium.

The victory — a third in four matches — moves Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men eight points clear of the drop zone with just five matches to play.

With painful fightbacks the order of the day for both Southampton and Wolves last week, the hosts might well have felt that sinking feeling again when Nathan Redmond’s early opener was cancelled out by Willy Boly.

But Redmond was soon on target again and substitute Long’s strike 19 minutes from time — his third of the season — secured three vital points.

The Ireland international had netted for the first time since January by giving Southampton the lead in last weekend’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool.

Brighton & Hove Albion remain five points clear of the relegation zone, despite being rocked by a 5-0 hammering at home to Bournemouth.

Goals from Dan Gosling and Ryan Fraser had the visitors two goals to the good by the time Brighton’s Anthony Knockaert was dismissed for a rash tackle on Adam Smith on 68 minutes.

David Brooks, Callum Wilson and Junior Stanislas rounded off the scoring for Bournemouth, who move up to 12th place thanks to their first win in four outings.

On the plus side for Brighton, 18th-placed Cardiff City were unable to close the gap. Neil Warnock’s side lost 2-0 away to Burnley, for whom Chris Wood scored both goals.

Relegated Fulham ended a nine-match losing streak with a surprise 2-0 home win over Everton. Playing for the first time since their return to the Championship was confirmed by last week’s defeat to Watford, Scott Parker earned his first win as caretaker manager.

After controlling the opening period, captain Tom Cairney’s first goal of season just 31 seconds into the second half put Fulham on their way, before Ryan Babel capped the victory.

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    Mute Hardly Normal
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 7:36 PM

    Vincent Debaty, unreal support running from the prop, amazing run as well Nakaitaci ..

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    Mute Phil O' Meara
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 8:22 PM

    100% best try. I reckon the effort probably took a year off his life.

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    Mute Peter Slattery
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 8:38 PM

    Love that he immediately had to go off. He literally gave everything for the try. And was forced back on. Unbelievable. What a day.

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    Mute @Aoifs2707
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 9:14 PM

    Agree 100% Vincent ran at some pace, and scored a crucial try. What a fecking legend the next time he is in Limerick the pints are on me!!!

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    Mute Deirdre Murphy
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 9:14 PM

    Magic stuff. Is that Nigel Owens in the background saying “every game should be like this”? And they were singing a cracking rendition of Swing low when the move started. Love the six nations.

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    Mute Paul McNevin
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 7:27 PM

    I’m still dancing at the crossroads, the wifi isn’t great.

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    Mute Gibson O Driscoll
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 8:38 PM

    Great tries great day. But a try saving tackle by Jammy won it for us. Never been a Heaslip fan but he earned his corn yesterday.

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    Mute Peter Slattery
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 8:37 PM

    Great article. We’ll done on compiling the list!

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    Mute Niall B.
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 9:20 PM

    Great line from Owens after the Debaty try ‘Every game should be like this’

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    Mute Séamus Ó Lochlainn
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 11:23 PM

    Leonardo Sarto for Italy in the last minute! Went from needing 28 points to 21, which was massive psychologically. Bravo sir!

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    Mute Cormac
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 3:43 AM

    Thanks for sharing. Live in USA for last 5 years but still a huge fan. Was following text commentary on Saturday. These are great times for Irish Rugby. We should cherish them.

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    Mute Mark O'Donohoe
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 9:10 PM

    And then this

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    Mute Mark O'Hagan
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 12:01 AM

    The Irish, French and Italian ones.

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