Saints have moved to the brink of safety after Wigan lost at home to Swansea tonight.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side now go into their last two matches of the season with a four-point cushion over the relegation zone.

Wigan would have cut the gap to just a single point with a victory at the DW Stadium.

However, despite taking the lead twice, the Latics threw away a crucial three points thanks to some abject defending.

Because of their inferior goal difference, Wigan would almost certainly need to win their last two matches – away to Arsenal three days after the FA Cup final and home to Aston Villa – to have any chance of overtaking Saints.

Even then, Saints would have to lose their last two and would also need to see Newcastle, Norwich and Sunderland go past them as well.

Some bookmakers immediately lengthened Saints’ odds for the drop to 80/1 after the game.

The Wigan manager, Roberto Martinez, said: “It’s a missed opportunity. We conceded sloppy goals with bad decisions and that is very unfortunate.

“If you concede soft goals in that manner it becomes an even bigger mountain to climb.

“What we need to do is make sure we get ready for the next two games we have in the league.

“We have got incredible character and we are determined to fight for every single point left. There’s six points there to fight for.”

Regardless of what Wigan did, it was always the case that if Saints won at Sunderland this Sunday they would be safe.

However, if Aston Villa lose at home to Chelsea on Saturday, a point at the Stadium of Light would effectively be enough to ensure survival.

Wigan took the lead on the stroke of half-time last night through Roger Espinoza’s volley, but Swansea levelled shortly after the break through Angel Rangel.

James McCarthy put the hosts back into the lead almost immediately, driving a low shot past Michel Vorm, but Itay Schechter’s deflected strike levelled the match again, before some woeful defending allowed Dwight Tiendalli to convert from close range.