MARCUS Tavernier’s deflected strike saw Cherries take a huge step towards retaining their Premier League status, with a 1-0 victory at neighbours Southampton.

The only goal of the game came four minutes into the second half, Tavernier cutting in from the right before his shot struck Saints defender Duje Caleta-Car and found the bottom corner.

Saints looked to have snatched a dramatic late equaliser when Che Adams fired in, only for a VAR check to rule it offside.

The win lifts Cherries up to 14th in the table, now seven points clear of the relegation zone with just five games to play. Saints sit bottom, six points from safety after losing at home to Cherries for just the second time in their history.

Gary O’Neil made two changes from the side which lost to West Ham United at the weekend with Matias Vina and Marcos Senesi recalled in place of Adam Smith and the ineligible Jack Stephens.

Saints handed a first league start of the season to goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, with Gavin Bazunu dropped.

Both sides got off to a lively start – Theo Walcott forcing Neto into a low stop before Ryan Christie and Tavernier both saw shots blocked.

Neto was then called into the best save of the half, denying Adam Armstrong from close range, turning his shot against the post with his foot.

Cherries had the ball in the net on 18 minutes. Solanke raced through on goal, only to be denied by McCarthy. The ball fell nicely for Vina, who finished well, only for the flag to then be raised with Solanke fractionally offside in the build-up.

Walcott saw a deflected header clip the crossbar at the other end, before both Philip Billing and Dominic Solanke fired off target left-footed before the half was out.

Saints made their second substitution at half-time. Injured Romain Perraud had been forced off shortly before the break, before Lyanco then came on to replace captain James Ward-Prowse at the start of the second period.

And Cherries soon got their noses in front. Solanke sent Tavernier away down the right wing, who cut inside onto his favoured left foot and aimed low, his left-footed effort deflecting off Caleta-Car and nestling into the bottom corner.

Confidence was flowing for Cherries, the visitors feeling aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty when a cross struck the outstretched arm of Jan Bednarek.

O’Neil turned to his bench for the first time midway through the half, introducing Illia Zabarnyi in place of the booked Senesi.

Cherries were dealt a blow as the game approached its final 10 minutes, Tavernier going down with what appeared to be another hamstring injury, forcing him off.

Saints looked to have snatched a point at the death, substitute Adams lashing in off the crossbar. But after a check, he was just offside.

The visitors saw out the additional five minutes as the club recorded three away Premier League wins on the spin for the first time in their history.

Cherries: Neto; Mepham, Senesi (Zabarnyi, 68), Kelly; Tavernier (Smith, 78), Rothwell, Lerma, Vina; Christie, Billing (Ouattara, 90+3); Solanke (Moore, 90+3).

Unused subs: Cook, Brooks, Anthony, Semenyo, Travers (g/k).

Booked: Senesi, Vina.

Saints: McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Caleta-Car, Bednarek, Perraud (Maitland-Niles, 36); Lavia, Ward-Prowse (Lyanco, h-t); Elyounoussi (S Armstrong, 61), A Armstrong (Sulemana, 76); Walcott (Adams, 61), Alcaraz.

Unused subs: Djenepo, Aribo, Mara, Bazunu (g/k).

Booked: None.

Referee: Darren England.

VAR: Andy Madley.