Saints went into a tough game shrouded in controversy with Nigel Adkins refusing to let his side mount a guard of honour for the already Champions Brighton, but it was the Saints fans cheering at the end.
Gus Poyet was known as a bit of a wind up merchant and he had had words with Nigel Adkins earlier in the season when the Seagulls had drawn 0-0 at St Mary's, so it was no surprise when more words were exchanged in the press with Saints boss Nigel Adkins saying that his side would not form a guard of honour as the season was not yet finished and that should be the preserve of Brighton's final opponents.
Adkins was known as a rather mild character fond of a cliche or two, so this was a little out of character for him, maybe Poyet had got u his nose or just that he wanted Saints to focus on their task not be reminded that Brighton were runaway leaders.
The upshot was that the Brighton fans were incensed and there were a few banners calling him a few names and a lot of boos as the teams came out n the pitch with no guard of honour being formed.
We had driven down to Brighton for what was going to be one of the last games at the Withdean Stadium and it was a nice hot day just like today as we parted company outside the ground with the Brighton fan who had come down with us and we headed to what was one of the worst away sections that I have ever been into.
Withdean was essentially an athletics ground , prior to Brighton's arrival it had one small stand, two open ends and a big bank along the other side with temoray stands added, all on the other side of the running track.
The away end was a small temporary stand completely open to the elements, with no real height and the goal we were behind being around 40 yards from the front.
Luckily all the times we went there it was was dry and warm, God knows what it would be like when it was cold and wet.
We started the day in 3rd place on 77 points, behind Huddersfield on 80 points, but we had two games in hand, but if things went to form then we would be playing catch up with just a game in hand as the Yorkshire side had played the day before on Good Friday and won.
So we really needed something from this game or the impetus would be with Huddersfield.
I cant remember why but Adam Lallana was on the bench for this game, I imagine he was carrying a knock, Morgan Schneiderlin was not in the squad nor was Lee Barnard, Dan Harding or Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, so we were going into the toughest game of the season with five of our first choice players not available.
The first half was as you would expect a tense affair, Brighton played with the swagger of Champions with their crowd roaring them on in between spouts of abuse aimed at our manager, but it looked as if we would get into half time level when on the very stroke of it Radhi Jaidi hit a back pass to Kevin Davis that was far too short and Ashley Barnes put the home side ahead.
Adam Lallana came on for Jonathan Forte at half time and although Rickie Lambert hit the post with a header we didn't look much like getting back into it, Brighton made a couple of changes for fresh legs and looked to be well capable of seeing out the last 15 minutes the best defence in the division at this point.
But on 76 minutes came the substitution that changed the game, off went Oscar Gobern and on came David Connolly, initially not a lot changed, apart from the Brighton fans on the stand to our right vamping up the volume and taunting Nigel Adkins and the Saints fans, but then on 84 minutes the madness started.
For their part the 1,000 or so Saints supporters never stopped getting behind their side, back then it was still the hardcore home and away and we got behind the team.
The up popped David Connolly to slot home from close range to send the Saints fans wild and mute the Seagulls.
But as the minutes ticked by and the clock ran down it looked like a draw was all we were going back, the Brighton fans were singing about champions and we were just willing our side forward.
The ball was crossed into the box right on 90 minutes to be met by Jose Fonte, but he was on the edge of the six yard box and at an angle, his header lacked real power but it looped and deceived the keeper and from looking like it would go over the bar it dropped into the net at the far post, cue scenes of excitement.
Fonte stripped off his shirt and jumped the advertising hoardings behind the goal and sprinted across the running track to the Saints supporters, he was soon engulfed by a dozen or so Saints fans and it was chaotic.
Things were cleared away and the game resumed, strangely to far less fans than had seen the goal, the Brighton fans to our right left in their droves which was a bit baffling because this was their first chance to celebrate promotion on their own ground, but this defeat their first at home all season just burst their bubble and they headed for the exits.
We saw out injury time and the final whistle saw more wild celebrations, but not from the Seagulls, sometimes being runaway Champions is not as much fun as surging to promotion right at the end with games like these.
We were still shocked and stunned in the streets after the game as we walked back to the pub where we had parked the cars, our Brighton mate was not one of those who had left the ground and he was almost happy to see us win if it meant we went up, he was thinking of the Premier League not this defeat.
We had a beer and then drove home, can't imagine it was pleasant listening for Seagull Dave as we talked o what we had seen, but he still came for a couple of beers when we got back to Southampton and as I say was happy for his own sides season not this result.
The you tube video below was taken by a Brighton fan from their side terrace to our right, it doesn't quite capture the atmosphere, but it gives you an idea.