With yesterdays results in London, Saints now stand two wins from the brink of a return to the premier League after a seven year absence.

With four games left, Saints know that if they win two of them that would surely be enough to propel them back into the top flight on goal difference even if West Ham win all of their remaining games, Saints currently have a better goal difference than the Hammers of plus eleven and thats a hell of a lot to make up at this time of the season.

At time of writing Reading have to go to Brighton this evening so it could ease our position at the top even further if the Seagull's pull of a, for them much needed win that would push them back into the top six at Cardiff's expense.

But our first priority is promotion rather than winning the League and if we win the next two games then we will be almost there.

West Ham themselves will be probably hoping for a Saints win on Friday if Reading lose at Brighton as that will still give them a chance of overhauling the Berkshire club, but truth of the matter is, the Hammers dont have an easy run in, on Saturday they host Brighton, who like Birmingham last night will be looking to capitalise on West Ham's jittery home form, then next Tuesday the Hammers travel to Ashton Gate to meet Bristol City, the Robins have dragged themselves clear of the bottom three and will be looking to get the points that keep them in the Championship, it wont be an easy game, nor will West Ham's next away game after that, Leicester City.

The Fox's play off hopes arent quite dead yet, they are only three points off sixth place and will hope to put in a late run on the rails to sneak that final place, then on the final day of the season Westn Ham face Hull at Upton Park, a few weeks ago this looked a tough game, not now though the Humberside club have gone into freefall and although like Leicester they are still within touching distance, chances are they wont have much to play for on that final day.

But promotion is pretty much in our own hands now, yes we feel a bit jittery, but this weekend has seen us gain some vital points and although we havent gained any ground on West Ham points wise, the crucial aspect of the situation is that we have got another two games played, a six point gap with six games to go was bad enough for the Hammers, but with four left its getting virtually impossible, our task is to win on Friday night and then wait for Saturday's results, it could be that one win is enough.

Photo: Action Images

stmichael added 10:36 - Apr 10 What I like about Nigel Adkins is that whilst most of us (me included) get very emotive and dramatic about results (good or bad) he just calmly prepares the team for the next match. Mondays response was magnificent but so was the clubs reaction to Saturday. We the supporters meanwhile were looking for someone to blame and discussing who we were goping to meet in the play offs! In NA we should most defintely trust.

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CovSaint added 10:45 - Apr 10 Yes, I agree with stmichael above. Even after the high octane, high drama of St. Mary's on Saturday against Pompey, he maintains a dignified level of consistency, praise where it's due, and reflection in post match interviews which typifies a good leader. I noticed him demonstrating passion and focus during the game however, which one would and should expect - 'In Nigel we Trust' is indeed a fully deserved signature phrase often attached to him on this site...

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SanMarco added 11:31 - Apr 10 While I agree with the above support and praise of the excellent NA I thought he went over the top with the 'point gained' comment. Winning 2-1 with 40 seconds to go and the ball is in Kelvin's hands. It is rather silly to say that the following minute didn't represent 2 points lost...Yes I know it is calming down/reassurance talk but such talk does surely have to be believable. Even so we are nearly there now and he has to take enormous credit. The lovely thing is that even as little as 3 or 4 points should now be enough!

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OldRed added 12:12 - Apr 10 Following alongthe lines of the above posts, I appreciate the fact that unlike Allardyce, NA never blames the ref for things that don't go Saints way, nor does he publicly criticise his own players. Agree with SanMarco though, definitely two points thrown away on Saturday rather than a point gained! Never mind that now though, as I'm sure the Hammers will drop more points along with the two dropped yesterday against Birmingham making Saints job a little less harder. COYR - we're almost there!

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saintossie added 12:17 - Apr 10 all very tense at the moment and yes saturday was a blow, conceding like that, but NA quite rightly just focused on the future straight away and yesterday was a big win which proved we have the ability to recover and not dwell on a possible negative. Obviously Reading game is huge and i think we can do it. Cov saint, are you based in Cov?? if so, ditto.
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CovSaint added 12:50 - Apr 10 yes indeed saintossie, and all a bit doom and gloom in work today following the sky blues' defeat at Bristol City yesterday!
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saintossie added 13:03 - Apr 10 Yes I guess so CovSaint, am just praying it doesnt all go down to last game of season where we both need to win etc. Anyway, I run the Greyhound inn at Sutton Stop, if you are ever in, say Hi.
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bstokesaint added 13:09 - Apr 10 I think yesterday's game goes to prove exactly was NA has been saying all season about "not getting too high or too low" on the back of wins or defeats. There was far too much negativity on this site on Sunday after the Pompey game. I was choked with the last minute equaliser, but not so much so that I lost perspective. Yesterday we got 6,000 fans behind us and look how the players responded. The precise reason why being positive gets results. Just look at West Ham.. And NA was spot on, it was "a point which took us top". I think you'd be a little naive to believe that he was actually happy to concede in the 93rd minute, but then he's paid to manage the team and to take the pressure off them, which is exactly what he's doing. If a few mind games are played in doing that then so be it. The players responded and that's what counts. Just a point of reflection on the Pompey game. Would there have been 4 minutes of injury time if those idiot Saints "fans" hadn't run on the pitch after our second goal? I'd say no, but if you're going to blame us for throwing a lead, then that would be a factor. That aside we've set up a decent finish now. Personally I'd be happy with a point on Friday and look to knock out two wins against Peterborough and Coventry. That's not to say I don't want to get that promotion sooner rather than later, but I'm being realistic, Reading are a form team at the moment and we will have to be at our very best to beat them. They'll certainly be pumped up for this one.

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