SWANSEA, Wales - Southampton manager Mark Hughes said the last-minute cancellation of a hotel booking ahead of their Premier League survival battle against Swansea City on Tuesday had given the team extra motivation to win at the Liberty Stadium.
Substitute Manolo Gabbiadini's scrappy goal after 72 minutes settled a tense clash in South Wales that helped Southampton take a big step towards top-flight safety.
A day before the game, Southampton had been forced to swap hotels from one near the stadium to another near Cardiff due to the threat of a virus.
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"I'm not for one minute suggesting that Swansea City had anything to with that," Hughes said. "I think it may be overzealous Swansea fans in a position to affect our hotel booking, maybe. But you can use those things to your benefit and use them as a motivating factor."
Swansea City's defeat means their Premier League survival depends on other teams but manager Carlos Carvalhal has not given up hope of a miracle.
The Swans are currently three points adrift of safety in 18th position with one league game left.
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With Southampton's goal difference better than Swansea's by nine, it would take a remarkable swing against the south-coast club for them to drop out of the top flight.
Swansea need to win their final game against already relegated Stoke City and hope Huddersfield Town lose at Chelsea on Wednesday and at home to Arsenal on Sunday.
"We still have a chance but we don't depend on ourselves," Carvalhal said, adding that the picture would become clearer after Wednesday. "After that, let's see if a kind of miracle can happen."