Yet another tough game for Saints as they aim to leave the Hammers trailing in their wake after the game at St Mary's

For Saints its now a case of taking every game as it comes and knowing that with every win they move a step forward in what could be a brilliant season, however it is also about taking small steps along the way and tonight could see one of those small steps in sight.

Undoubtably the first aim of this season was to repeat last years 8th place finish, West ham arrive at St mary's in that very position and a win for the home team would leave them 11 points behind with only 13 games left to pla, that would mean four straight wins for West ham to even catch us let alone overtake us, so a win tonight would go a long way to see the first of this seasons objectives achieved.

But the real objective is now qualifying for the Champions League and with each game comes the chance for a win that would see us a step nearer that goal and it is now going to be a war of attrition and if we can turn the screw tonight and open up at least a three point gap between us and fifth place then that has got to be good.

A wi will also see us have a rest period as we are out of the cup, with all our injury problems this will be most welcome, when we return to action in just under a fortnight, much of our injury problems will hopefully have eased and we will not only have the likes of Toby Alderweireld and Morgan Schneiderlin back and firing on all cylinders, but Shane Long almost ready and perhaps Jay Rodriguez not to mention the return of Ryan Bertrand after suspension.

So the key is that we keep winning through injury and suspension ravaged times, we have in the main done that well so far, but if we keep doing so it takes a lot of pressure of us and when those players return we should be able to put our foot on the gs.

But first up is the Hammers and they seem to have greater injury problems than us, they are struggling for central defenders, James Tomkins broke his nose in Sundays game against Manchester United but will be forced into action alongside stand in Kouyate as put bluntly they have no other options.

Add a few other doubts like Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll and not only will it be a patched up Hammers side but they will hopefully still be fatigued after a hard game against United.

For our part we are struggling for defenders as well and that being the case Ronald Koeman is likely to play the formation at the back that played most of the game against QPR with Fonte, Gardos in the centre with Clyne and Yoshida as full backs, although the manager may opt with so many wide players potentially available to go with a three man defence and take the game to West Ham.

Saints play to a certain system these days and the style of play although changeable is now very much to a shape that wasn't so definable in the early part of the season, Graziano Pelle is now more of a targett man to hold the ball up and bring others into play than he was at the start of the campaign and Saints fans should not take the fact that he is now scoring less as an indication that he is not in as good form, his role is now more of provider than scorer and that is why Mane and Elia have benefited in recent weeks.

A win for Saints is vital, its getting tough at the top and we have to keep putting the pressure on the others to catch us rather than on ourselves.

Photo: Action Images

tiptop added 13:50 - Feb 11 Agreed Nic. Must.Keep.Winning! Players are doing fantastically considering who is out. Our injuries are extensive. No doubt the two WH CBs and Nolan(IF out) are a big miss for them..but Sakho, Valencia, Downing and prob Carol up front doesn't sound too bad. Our organisation and defending with our first choice team this is second to none. But now..with Toby still out and Bertrand (and Target)?.. Gardos and Yoshida(prob at LB) need to have a solid games and so too Wanyama and Reed. Imagine if JRod was available to give Pelle a break up front. As it is Mane is proving vital. That said as you said Nic if we can beat WHam that gap will be significant and also allow us to push our foot down a little further on those over fed Cocks of Tottenham. Nic, how do you mean we have changed our system to have Pelle as a provider more? Mane tends to drift more centrally with him now if thats what you mean. Pelle is getting more attention and also if we are not getting quality balls into the box he is not going to get the chances.

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