I can cut and paste virtually every opening paragraph of the Game Preview for the rest of the season, "This one is a big one we must get something out of if preferably 3 points" this one is a little more, we have to win.

Ruben Selles has a few decisions to make for this game both tactically and also in personnel, but the good news is that he has a full squad to choose from.

So first up does he stick to the 4-4-2 formation that he has favoured in his two Premier League games so far, those arguing for would say that this is a formation that best suits the players, they know it and they feel most comfortable with it.

If he does go with this formation again though, he does need to change some of the personnel.

Personally this would be my team

Bazunu.

Maitland-Niles, Caleta-Car, Bella-Kotchap- Walker Peters

Sulemana, Lavia, Ward Prowse, Alcaraz.

Adams, Onauchu.

This is a solid line up that has a blend of experience, youth and pace.

There will be some contention in my selection in goal, but my view is the biggest part of this problem is noy Gavin Bazunu, but who is in front of him, if you have a young keeper you have to have a consistent solid defence in front of him and he has never had that, whoever goes in goal will have the same problems.

At the back we have perhaps the first back four in the history of football that consists of players with double barrelled names, for me this is the best choices, some will make a case for Romain Perraud, and say square pegs in round holes, but in this case KWP although a right back, is a better left back than Perraud, on the right Maitland-Niles has put in a couple of decent games at right back.

In midfield no one would argue with Lavia & JWP in the centre, im looking at a bit of pace on the wings and I think Sulemana & Charly Alcatraz will give us that.

Up front Che Adams is best when playing off a central striker rather than being the main man himself, pairing him with Tall Paul could reap benefits.

But if Ruben Selles does want to try and change things then perhaps 3=5-2 or a variation on that could pay dividends, I don't see this as 5 at the back, but something that lets us be fluid.

If so then my line up is

Bazunu

Bella-Kotchap, Caleta-Car, Salisu

Maitland-Niles, Lavia, JWP, Sulemana, KWP

Adams Onauchu

Not a big change on personnel but a little tweak, that enables us to push the wing backs forward a little more and utilise Tall Paul with his aerial prowess.

That is the tactical part of the preview out of the way, the second point is a lot more simple, we have to go out and win a game of football at home, the fact that we are still in touch with safety is down to our away form, but we have some toughies away from home coming up, we now have to win a few at home.

Today is a pivotal day, potentially we could score a psychological advantage on those above us if we win, we would jump above Bournemouth if they lose at Arsenal, above Everton as they don't play till tomorrow when they travel to Nottingham Forest and if Leeds lose at Chelsea we will only be a point behind them.

In relegation battles it is often the side that comes from the back of the pack that stays up, there is always one and that could be us.

This afternoon I am not going to call for the crowd to be behind the team from the kick off etc, just not to be on the teams back, if you cant say something good then say nothing, after Wednesday evening it is down to the team to show us something we can get behind, although the truth is only perhaps two players who started Wednesday would be in my starting line up.

We need the side to go out and show the fans they can keep us up, then we need to show them that we want them to, be 100% behind them and keep them going.

We need to keep this relegation battle wide open, that means beating the Foxes and sending them home looking over their shoulders at us only 3 points behind them, likewise Wolves who host Spurs and West Ham who go to Brighton.

A big big day for Saints, but that is going to be the situation in every game from now on!

Photo: Action Images

barry_sanchez added 09:50 - Mar 4 I can wholeheartedly 100% state I have absolutely no faith in this mentally piss weak team.
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Block8 added 09:56 - Mar 4 The thing is we haven't played 4-4-2 but 4-2-2-2 Nick and you are completely wrong that KWP is a better Left Back than Perraud! Perraud has taken on the mantle of Jack Stephens in almost every article his name is included in, yet he is consistently one of our best defenders? I also feel that Caleta-Car is a penalty in waiting, if you have been watching him, he holds and pulls opponents back all the time & isn't terribly clever about it. And Maitland Niles was as bad against Leeds as he was good against Chelsea. I strongly believe that we need to set up as a 4-2-2 system with the defenders concentrating on defence or even a 4-3-3 but still keeping a solid defence. My team in that case would be; Bazunu KWP Bela-Kotchap, Salisu, Perraud S Armstrong Lavia, JWP Sulemana Onauchu Adams Although I do agree that this is perhaps the last chance salon and if we lose today the mission impossible soundtrack can start

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highfield49 added 09:57 - Mar 4 Yup, another of those must win games. I'd play Salisu in place of Caleta-Car in your initial line up Nick. My heart is going to sink if I see Bednarek, Stuart Armstrong, Elyounoussi and Walcott on the team sheet. If the players can't dig in and get motivated to get all three points then it's not going to happen down the line I'm afraid. The doors of the last chance saloon are swinging open today. Let's hope that everyone plays a blinder and we live to fight another day.

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davidargyll added 10:04 - Mar 4 I see that Mark Lawrenson is going for a narrow Saints win. Probably the kiss of death… But of course WITH A LARGE SLICE OF LUCK we can take this game. Meanwhile presumably the squad has read all the comments about them being not so much overpaid “has-beens” as “never-really-have-beens.” So how will they respond? I reckon they will go hammer and tongs for a lot of the game, hopefully won’t run out of puff and equally don’t get killed on a Leicester breakaway. And if they play with commitment then the crowd will support them. But woe betide if there’s any of this running forward a few yards, turning round and passing backwards. That shows complete lack of bottle. And that more than anything else will decide our fate, both today and for the rest of the season. Confidence may be in short supply at SMS, that is something we can do little about, but my Christ we will be on their backs if the team doesn’t seem to be trying…

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ItchenNorth added 10:32 - Mar 4 I love these games as they mean something. The pressure is on, so what. Let's back the team. Salisu is a must for me if fit. Get him paired with ABK. Finally, not in the starting 11 for sure, but Walcott gets too much grief imo. He's an experienced pro and I'd rather see Walcott than Elyounoussi, Armstrong or Orsic for example. Theo might not be the finisher he once was, but he drives forward and gets in much better postions than any of those players. I have no issue with Theo coming on for the last 20 if we need it. COYR

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JoeEgg added 11:11 - Mar 4 Much prefer Block 8's team to Nicks! Bazunu KWP Bela-Kotchap, Salisu, Perraud S Armstrong Lavia, JWP Sulemana Onauchu Adams Reading the Leicester pages you get the same message - a six pointer that we must win! Brendan Rodgers has not had a great season but he does have some very experienced players who should be just right for this kind of scrap. To be honest it is impossible to predict how this game will go. As Itchen North says all we can ask is that the 11 players wearing our shirts give it everything and more!

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ItchenNorth added 11:35 - Mar 4 To be clear, Theo over Adam Armstrong (not Stuart!).
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halftimeorange added 12:28 - Mar 4 I regret to say that Alcaraz's showings after a very positive start have been woeful so I'd leave him out of our starting eleven Caleta-Car seems to be indisciplined and might be risky. The main things, however are, one to speed things up. Every time we get a throw-in we have to wait for the designated thrower to arrive by which time the opposition have regrouped (does nobody at Saints watch Man City?). And, two our passing has, for some time, been appalling as was shown against Grimsby. This season I've only seen Stuart Armstrong split a defence, everyone else seems to hit and hope, hence we rarely score from open play.

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Kenm added 12:58 - Mar 4 Lavia has said he will do his best to HELP save Saints !, only 1 problem with that !, he's got to get the rest of the team in the same frame of mind !, Walcott & Bednarek both should be dropped for the rest of the season
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aceofthebase added 16:19 - Mar 4 Jack Stephens in the back line would be an improvement.
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Boris1977 added 16:54 - Mar 4 Just seen the starting line up. The club is screwed under sports direct. I think players are being randomly selected on the basis of those who get the lowest appearance bonus rather than winning matches. Expect another embarrassing defeat. This squad and set up is worse than the that which got relegated back in 2006. Managed decline is the phrase that springs to mind.

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mushinexile added 17:07 - Mar 4 Managed ? you must be joking! All of today's results are favourable and we could be off the bottom with a win; then again, it is more likely I could be doing aerobatics with the Red Arrows while riding a unicorn.
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mushinexile added 18:33 - Mar 4 Just score three more with a clean sheet and we're eighteenth!
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