All Southampton eyes were on Selhurst Park on Monday evening as Crystal Palace took on Premier League leaders Manchester City, a draw ensued and that was good for Saints on several fronts !

The games between Crystal Palace and Manchester City was important to Saints for several reasons, firstly if the Eagles won then they would leapfrog over us and into 10th place, the game ended goalless, which although brought Palace up a couple of places, meant that they still were a point behind Saints in the table, we therefore ended the weekend in 10th place.

The last week has been disappointing having failed to take a point in 3 games we really should have taken a minimum of 4 and perhaps more.

But to go into the second half of March not only in the Top 10 of the Premier League, but also in the semi finals of the FA Cup, is something all Saints supporters would have taken if given the scenario back in August, the season still has a long way to go, but to be in this position now is pleasing.

The last 3 games are now in the past, we can't change them so no point in moaning about poor performances, we now have to look to the next fixture which is at home to Manchester City on Sunday.

We can now look forward to this with a little more confidence than before, Palace showed that as good as City are, they are still human and results can be got against them.

But City's failure to beat Palace is also good for Saints from another perspective and that is about where there priorities lie, going into the game at Selhurst Park they knew a win would give them a six goal lead over Liverpool and although the Anfield side would have a game in hand, they would still need to win it and if they didn't then it was advantage City.

But having dropped two points City are now just four points ahead in the title chase and Liverpool have that game in hand to play at Arsenal on Wednesday, if they win it then the race at the top is blown wide open again.

That means that City will have to prioritise their games and the FA Cup will take 3rd place behind not only the Premier League but the Champions League as well.

That could see them rest players at St Mary's and this could be to our advantage.

But a word of caution if they do, such is the difference between the have's & have not's in the Premier League these days, City could put out an entire second string in the League and it would probably finish in the top 6 with ease.

But we have to take every advantage that we can get on Sunday and although it will gall many Saints fans to do so, we need Liverpool to win at Arsenal and increase the pressure on City.

In a little over 3 weeks time after the Cup game on Sunday Liverpool travel to the Etihad for what will be a game that will go a long way to deciding the destination of the title, City cannot afford to risk key players with that game looming as well as a Champions League tie in the weeks before and after that game.

Photo: Action Images

Block8 added 10:00 - Mar 15 Quite a few ifs here Nick, i hope you are right but they do have a very big and very good squad. The players coming in will be hungry for a regular starting position and up their game to earn that place! Lets hope they have a real off day, whoever they pick and we can get our game back. At least they do not sit back and use pace on the break which is our definite weakness. Not sure we can out play them but we can frustrate and get behind them and hopefully pull it off. If Lyanco was fit I'd go with three at the back but perhaps Valery may shine again? COYR

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Bawdrip added 16:22 - Mar 15 Hope fades a bit with Mike Dean named as referee.
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SanMarco added 21:11 - Mar 15 6 days to prepare - two week international break afterwards. Why on earth do they need to 'rest' anyone on Sunday. Same applies to Ralph of course. I was quite optimistic just 10 days or so ago. Not so much now - but you never know...!!
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