Swansea extended their unbeaten run to five league games as they eased to a comfortable 3-0 win over Southampton.
Saints sunk as Martinez's men cruise to win
Swansea extended their unbeaten run to five league games as they eased to a comfortable 3-0 win over Southampton.
Midfielder Darren Pratley got Roberto Martinez's side on their way with a first half effort, before strikes from Jordi Gomez and Thomas Butler cemented the win after the interval.
The defeat sees Southampton drop into the relegation zone as Barnsley's draw with Bristol City edges them above their South Coast counterparts.
Both sides started the game nervously and the first real action of any note was a yellow card to Gomez for a challenge on Rudi Skacel after seven minutes.
The game burst into life after 12 minutes when Ferrie Bodde fed Butler on the left wing, he ran to the byline and pulled the ball back across goal for Pratley to slot past Kelvin Davis in the Saints goal.
Cool finish
The visitors struggled to gain possession but were almost gifted a lifeline back into the game when the Swans defence invited Bradley Wright-Phillips to run at them but s shot was saved by debutant Artur Krysiak.
The hosts controlled possession around midfield despite not making any clear chances although Bodde's shot from 20 yards whistled over the bar.
Nigel Pearson's side began to find their feet with Adam Lallana causing the home team's defence a number of problems with his bright play.
Wright-Phillips had his second chance of the match after 37 minutes when Lallana played him through but his shot at goal was blocked by Garry Monk.
Angel Rangel should have made it two for Swansea when he ran onto Gomez's through ball but his shot crept wide of the upright.
As the half drew to a close Swansea came close to doubling their advantage but Butler's shot at goal was deflected past the upright by Wright-Phillips.
Swansea suffered a scare early in the second half when full-back Marcos Painter was carried off on a stretcher with a bad leg injury.
Easy win
It did not deter Roberto Martinez's side from continuing their search for a second goal and Ashley Williams came close when heading Gomez's free-kick inches over the bar after 55 minutes.
And the goal came moments later after a horrendous error from Davis, Bodde's free-kick looked to be safely collected by the Saints' stopper but he dropped the ball and Gomez responded quickest to fire the ball into the net.
Butler added a third after 72 minutes, cutting in from the left wing and curling a right-footed shot into the corner of the goal to ease the Welsh side into the comfort zone for the remainder of the match.
Southampton failed to find a way back into the game as their run of games without a win extended to four while Swansea edged closer to the play-off places.
