Southampton beat Preston North End to seal a top-four finish in the Championship table and set up a play-off semi-final with Middlesbrough.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis gave Saints an early lead as he powered Welington's cross high into the net with a header before Ross Stewart made it 2-0 in the second half, slotting the ball into the bottom corner after some smart footwork.

The hosts got a goal back as Daniel Peretz slipped over when trying to clear a ball in behind and left Lewis Dobbin free to slot the ball into an empty net.

However, Cyle Larin wrapped things up for Tonda Eckert's side in injury time as he converted Sam Edozie's cross from close range to extend the Saints unbeaten league run to 19 matches.

After 46 league matches, the Lilywhites finish 14th in the Championship table, six places higher than their 20th-place finish last season.

Tonda Eckert's side took the lead after 12 minutes as Welington made a dash down the left and lofted a cross into the area where Harwood-Bellis rose highest and headed the ball into the top right-hand corner.

Fellows came close to a second just minutes later, but his curled effort from the edge of the box flew narrowly wide of the far post.

The hosts then had a decent chance of their own as shots from Alfie Devine and Ben Whiteman were blocked at close range before Saints scrambled clear.

Paul Heckingbottom's side came close to an equaliser after 30 minutes when Liam Lindsay headed just wide of the target.

But Southampton doubled their lead early in the second half when Cameron Archer fizzed a pass into Stewart who swivelled on the edge of the box before slotting the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot.

The Lilywhites managed to get a goal back when goalkeeper David Cornell made a sharp stop at his near post before sending a ball over the top for Dobbin to chase.

Peretz came out of his box in an attempt to clear the danger, but misjudged the flight of the ball and slipped as he attempted to correct himself, allowing Dobbin to collect the ball and roll the ball into an empty net.

But Larin came off the bench to score in injury time and secure the three points for the Saints, tapping Edozie's cross into the net from close range.

Ryan Manning struck the post with the final kick of the game with a free-kick from just outside the area.

"It was very important to get back to winning ways," Saints boss Tonda Eckert told BBC Radio Solent.

"It's not easy to play the game like we did today, especially after the schedule we have had over the last few weeks.

"The performance was excellent in every regard possible, the boys were fantastic today, we need to make the last step now and we are ready to do that.

"No-one care if you go all the way then fall at the last step, the players are the best they have been all season right now, we are ready."

Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom:

"I couldn't have asked for much more really. We were up against the best team in the Championship at the minute.

"I didn't want us to sit off them and show them too much respect and I felt we were the better team in the first half. They scored that second goal at a killer moment at the start of the second half but we showed good character to get back in it.

"The third goal for them flattered them and I didn't think we deserved it having got back in the game so I'm proud of the effort.

"It's probably a really good reflection of the season of us giving our all, which has been more than good enough against a lot of teams, but we came up against a team today who were better than us."