After a poor start to 2023, followed by a good ending, Saints now have to keep it going in 2024 and the first step in that takes place at Carrow Road on New Years Day, as we try to make it 5 wins in a row.

I said a couple of months ago that what would give us a jump over our rivals for promotion would be be the quality and the depth of our squad, that has proved to be the case as Russell Martin has found his options limited at times by suspension, injury & illness.

That was the case in the win over Plymouth, Flynn Downes was sick and Martin also had to manage a squad that was playing it's third game in 6 days and indeed it's 8th game in just 30 days.

That is part of the reason why we have surged above Leeds and pulled back the points gap with Ipswich, they don't have the depth that we do and we might well look back at the 4 games either side played either side of Xmas as the pivotal moment of the season.

But all the good work has to be built upon and the first step is our first fixture of 2024 when we take on Norwich City.

Although Martin will still be missing long term injured Sulemana & Ross Stewart as well as James Bree, he will be hopeful of having Flynn Downes back after another illness, this apparently stemming from his bout of food poisoning after eating raw chicken liver.

The manager made changes against Plymouth, some enforced and some to rest tired legs, so he will have some thinking to do ahead of this game.

The first is at the back, does he stay with a back four as he did against Plymouth or will he revert to essentially three at the back as he did on Boxing Day against Swansea with the full backs pushed on.

In midfield aside from Flynn Downes returning he also has Joe Aribo & Stuart Armstrong who were rested on Friday night pushing for a return at Carrow Road, not to mention the Wee Man, Ryan Fraser has been superb coming off the bench and is surely pushing for a place in the starting line up.

However he is finding staunch competition in the form of Sam Edozie who has not only blossomed but also found some consistency in December.

All in all it is a good problem for Russell Martin to have, depth is all well and good, we had depth last season, but what we didn't have was the quality at the level needed and no one was really demanding they be picked by their performances.

That has all changed this season and whilst no one is under any illusions that if we get promotion then we can just carry on the good work easily next season, it is all about now and getting the task in hand done and then we can plan for next year.

So it is Norwich up next, the Canaries have had mixed fortunes this season, like many teams in the Championship, they have been a little up and down, although they started the season well with 3 wins in the opening 4 games, the only blip being their 4-4 draw at St Mary's they start 2024 sat in 13th with 34 points, but they are only 5 points off of Hull in 6th place, so they still harbour hopes of a run that will take them up into the play off's.

Since their visit to us their season has been up and down, but it should be noted that they started December well, winning 3 out of the first 5 and with 2 draws, one of those a 2-2 at Ipswich.

They have lost the last two, but they were both away, 1-0 at West Brom who are in form and then 1-0 at Millwall.

So they are like many other teams in this division, they are capable of getting a result against anyone, but they are not infallible and perhaps their last two results are as mentioned earlier due to a lack of depth in their squad and tired legs.

They like us will be playing their 9th game in 33 games, so I would hope that this will be in our favour on New Years Day.

Hopefully we will continue our good run and there is an outside chance we could be in the top two if we can beat Norwich, Ipswich travel to Stoke City who are not in the best of form with only 1 win in 11 games, however they have not lost in the last 5 with a win and 4 draws, so it will not be easy for the Tractor Boys.

So given that we one ahead of Ipswich in the goal difference stakes, a single goal victory at Carrow Road and a single goal defeat for them at Stoke would see us above them on goal difference.

But as I keep saying it is a war of attrition, it is about keeping up the pressure on the top two and every point is crucial.

Elsewhere Leicester are at home to Huddersfield and Leeds host Birmingham City, so you would not expect either club to drop points, so it is doubly important to keep up the pressure.

Photo: Action Images

highfield49 added 12:29 - Dec 31 For me this is one of those pivotal games where a draw would be a good result and a win demonstrating that we are genuine top two contenders. As for the strength in depth that you rightly factor in Nick, my view is that those block substitutions regularly made by RM contribute towards maintaining fitness and sharpness. Rotating forwards and midfield players from sixty minutes onwards prevents fatigue and gives alternate defenders game time and integration when needed. The modern game, as we all know, is no longer ninety minutes so the substitutes will all be aware of the roles they are expected to play. My view is that the substitutions are becoming seamless game management rather than tactical necessities. Norwich certainly aren't going to roll over easily but our knew found ability, with any of up to eight players capable of scoring, is going to give them a tough contest.

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Bowlercow added 17:18 - Dec 31 When Norwich came to SMS and got a very entertaining 4/4 draw I fully expected them to be a top 6 side This will be the toughest of our holiday period matches and if we come away in unbeaten again I won't be to unhappy
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IanRC added 10:30 - Jan 1 Think Ryan Fraser is better as an impact substitution. On the rare occasion when he has started he has been less effective.
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Peterx added 10:50 - Jan 1 Going be tough if Downes does not start, I'm glad that Stu was rested. Hope we are clinical in front of goal. Sense this is the biggest test we have had to keep the unbeaten run going.
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