Southampton have been promoted to the Premier League following a 1-0 win over Leeds United in the play-off final on Sunday evening.
The Peacocks were required to do the earlier bit of defending where goalkeeper Illan Meslier pulled across the near post to court a free-kick from Ethan Ampadu into touch.
Meslier would be undone around the midway stage of the first half when Adam Armstrong managed to beat the offside trap to run in on the near side and calmly picked out the far corner.
Southampton had to turn to the bench ten minutes to halftime and bring on Samuel Edozie in the place of David Brooks who weren't able to carry on playing.
Armstrong came extremely close to doubling the lead and land a first half brace on the stroke of halftime through a smartly worked angled shot, but Meslier's outstretched arm denied him.
The Peacocks camped thoroughly on the edge of the Saints box in a desperate quest for the equaliser, but lacked the necessary cutting edge.
Southampton maintained a very tight line in the rear-guard and furthermore left the counterparts' aim to a comeback in the balance.
Daniel Farke's troops were stretchered once more a little in the second stanza as first half substitute Edozie came in smartly to the near side and curled wide of the far post.
However, Leeds didn't give up gunning for the leveller and came extremely close five minutes to the end when substitute Daniel James hit the upright with a first-time shot outside the area.
James went close once in the lengthy stoppage time through a low strike from way out, but Alex McCarthy dived across and parried him.
The Saints emerged victorious after surviving the spell of pressure and returned to the Premier League a season after being relegated.
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