Its no coincidence that Saints unbeaten three match run is on the back of playing a balanced side with square pegs in square holes.

When this season has its post mortem as all seasons do come May time, Saints supporters will look back at December & January and perhps consider that we had a bit of a funny five minutes, I wouldnt quite say that we panicked, but for a time we seemed to forget just why we were top of the league in the first place, we stopped doing what we had been doing well and all of a sudden you never quite knew what sort of selections would be made, three central midfield players with no clear right sided player didnt help the balance across the midfield and many would concur that this loss of balance in this crucial area did not help us as we battled to try and find our form again.

Now we seem to have found our balance again and more to the point we seem to have some options that the manager will consider using, strangely certain players dont seem to get a look in whilst others are shoehorned in to unfamiliar roles, now this seems to have stopped we look better and confident for it.

We can now get back to our target which remains an average of two points per game between now and the end of the season, do that and 87 points should be enough for automatic promotion, like last season we have to remain focused on this task and to be blunt the failure of others to win on Saturday for whatever reason means that we have some breathing space again.

So a point at Upton Park would be a big step forward, Ok it would still keep us behind our two point average target on current form, but it keeps the Hammers in sight and gets a very tough away game out of the way, we dont need to do anything special we just need to play the side that started on Saturday with perhaps the only change being on the bench where i would expect us to lose one of the attacking options, probably Lee and bring in a midfielder, hopefully Richard Chaplow.

Do this and the players will feel settled and ready for the fight, good teams have cosistency and they have balance, we have lacked both for a while now, but with it restored we can start to get back what is perhaps the most important attribute of all for a winning side and that is confidence

Photo: Action Images

Olley added 11:21 - Feb 13 I totally agree you need to play players in their right position & only do square pigs in round holes when there is no other choice. I expect Bart to be back but based on Hammonds performance as sub on Sat, I am not sure Chappers will get the nod. I believe we should play the exact 11 as that that started on Sat if there is no injures. I feel that if we can play like we did on Sat, then we have a great chance to get a result on Tuesday & if we do, then this could be the start of a run of winning results, building confidence each game COYRS

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ExiledSupporter added 11:33 - Feb 13 Pleased to hear that Guly played well on Saturday. He deserves plenty of credit for doing as well as he did for us while partnering RL over recent months, now that we can get him running at goal, rather than receiving the ball with his back to goal, the midfield will be much more threatening. Still need to play the ball more into the channels and the midfield to contribute a few more goals (only Lallana contributing at present) Just hope NA does stick with the round pegs in round holes policy...we shall see

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SaintNick added 11:38 - Feb 13 i thought it was a square pegs in square holes
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iwtwms added 12:11 - Feb 13 Olley: we won't get very far with square PIGS but rounds pegs in square holes are ok so long as the diameter of the peg is smaller than the length of the side of the square.
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bstokesaint added 12:23 - Feb 13 It's a really tough call for tomorrow night. I agree that Guly played really well, but typically he is less effective away from home. If this is the only change that is going to be made then I would bring in Chaplow (if fully fit). I don't like the idea of tinkering with a winning side, but when you have so many options in some positions then sometimes it's better to keep everyone involved and fighting for those places. There's also an argument for horses for courses. I'm really interested to see how things progress for Lee, but not sure we need two strikers on the bench against West Ham. Connolly will be desperate to get on against the Hammers, and looked sharp on Saturday. Just needs to hold that line a bit more. Felt sorry for him to have that goal chalked off, you could see how much it meant to him.

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rjh added 12:53 - Feb 13 Spot on article Nick, I thought Saturday was our best eleven by a mile and it showed. No changes for tomorrow please.
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Fordy added 13:54 - Feb 13 Bart will definitely be back on the bench on Tuesday. WH are a lot more physical up front with the likes of Cole and Carew and the risk to a keeper is there - just ask Millwall. Apart from that the only other change may be in centre midfield. So far this season NA has tended to bring the one of Hammond/Morgan/Cork for the midweek game. I'm not sure he will tomorrow but maybe Morgan will drop back to the bench. So same team and Bart, Martin, Hammond, Harding and Connolly on the bench.

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tiptop added 15:00 - Feb 13 Agreed Nick Pegs and holes.. all that is so true. Sats line-up was potentially the best 11. Also the teams' heads were right and they clicked together again. Not sure what NA has planned but can only see Puncheon edging a start. Chaplow? Too early I guess but NA knows best. Guly has the height to help defend and should start. Agreed too about Bart. I think Lee could get the nod over Connolly for the bench considering height even though Connors looked sharp/hungry. Bench: Bart/Puncheon or Guly/Hammond/Lee/Martin

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BlackRod added 16:40 - Feb 13 I'd prefer Connors over Lee on the bench - always go for experience over youth in games like this. I think Lee has been a bit of a disappointment so far but it's early days. Personally I'd like to see Punch start - he's probably the hungriest man in the team.
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Saint_bezzer added 21:51 - Feb 13 As much as i would like to see the same team play i think the way West Ham play needs to be taken into consideration. They play route 1 football, just a big hoof up to there big strikers which will bypass the midfield. With this in mind i dont think Schneiderlin will play because not only will he not see enough of the ball saints will need players in midfield that will close down there midfielders and put pressure on there defenders so they cant hoof the ball up to the strikers. So i think Chaplow will play if hes fit and also Hammond will play to put pressure on them.

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