Southampton deny Sheffield United eighth place with 3-1 win

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Sheffield United - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - July 26, 2020 Southampton's Che Adams scores their second goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

Sheffield United's hopes of finishing eighth in the Premier League standings were dashed when they were beaten 3-1 by Southampton at St. Mary's Stadium on the final day of the season on Sunday.

The result meant Chris Wilder's Blades finished ninth, still their best ever finish in the Premier League. Southampton, who were in the relegation zone earlier this season, ended their campaign in 11th place.

"We have to up our game in the summer and we had run our race," Wilder told BBC after their third straight defeat. "It looked like a second half too far for the players.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Sheffield United - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - July 26, 2020 Southampton's Che Adams scores their second goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

"We've finished ninth against some really good teams which we can proud of but we wanted to finish on a high.

"We have to recruit right and we have to invest, there will be some players that are going and they will all have to raise their levels again."

John Lundstram gave the visitors reason to dream when he fired them into the lead in the 26th minute when the Southampton defence failed to clear a cross, allowing the midfielder to take an uncontested shot through the legs of Alex McCarthy.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Sheffield United - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - July 26, 2020 Southampton's Danny Ings scores their third goal from the penalty spot, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Naomi Baker

But Southampton's Che Adams scored the equaliser five minutes after the restart against his former club when he took a quick shot on the run which took both defender John Egan and goalkeeper Dean Henderson by surprise.

Adams' quick reactions were on display again in the 71st minute when he was first to pounce on a blocked shot, pulling the trigger to fire a shot past Henderson to give the Saints the lead.

Southampton sealed all three points when they won a penalty in the 84th minute after Danny Ings was brought down in the box and the English striker stepped up to score his 22nd league goal this season -- one behind Golden Boot winner Jamie Vardy.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Sheffield United - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - July 26, 2020 Southampton's Nathan Redmond in action with Sheffield United's Richairo Zivkovic, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Glyn Kirk

"I saw a team in the second half that is really showing how every part of their game is developing," Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuettl said as his team finished the season with a seven-match unbeaten run.

"We had strong offensive moments and solutions against these teams is not easy, but we deserved this win today."

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Sheffield United - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - July 26, 2020 Southampton's Danny Ings scores their third goal from the penalty spot, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge)