Saints fans will be casting nervous glances towards Lancashire tonight as Wigan Athletic take on Swansea City in a game that has big implications for Southampton Football Club.

There is no kind way of putting this, if Wigan beat Swansea tonight, then we will find ourselves only a point off the final relegation place as what looked like being a nerve free end to the season is fast turning into one that will see those same nereves jangling come the final day.

If Swansea win tonight then they do have a tough trip to the Emirates next Tuesday to use up their game in hand because of their date at Wembley this Saturday, however their final game is Aston Villa at home and they would fancy their chances in that one.

Of course our fate is very much in our own hands and of all the clubs we probably have the easiest of final two games in travelling to Sunderland and facing Stoke at home, but this is very much something we could have done without and highlights the risk we took in January by failing to strengthen the squad.

A defeat for Swansea would of course leave them four points behind and needing to win both of their last two games to overtake us a task that would be very hard, however this season in the relegation dogfight has been a tough one and one that not only looks likely to have one of the highest points yields for the side that will go down in that final relegation place, but has also featured the most clubs, at time of writing and of course dependent on what Wigan do, 8 clubs could still get relegated in that final spot. 

Photo: Action Images

IanRC added 09:48 - May 7 Failing to strengthen the squad ....... And sacking our producing manager who could get resilts against kick and rush teams ?
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JazzyJeff added 09:50 - May 7 Unfortunately, Swansea have little to play for having already qualified for Europe. This could mean that they play their flowing passing game with no nerves and run out winners or it could mean that they only give 80%. As for Wigan,I don't think anyone would bet against them escaping yet again (and I hope they do . . . . but not at our expense !) I think the Champions League battle is crucial to our survival to ensure that the 'big' teams get the right results in their last few games. A great team effort on Saturday but we must get some oints from somewhere and preferably sooner rather than later. Come on Saints put us all out of our misery.

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thedelldays added 10:33 - May 7 where did adkins gets results against kick and rush teams?
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vectis added 11:14 - May 7 All I can say I that Cortese must be a bit nervous right now. He fired Adkins with talk of taking the club to the next level...whoops. Come on Swansea!
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stmichael added 11:46 - May 7 When I compare our bench to most teams I think it is stronger. A typical saints bench would read Davis Fox Mayuka Puncheon Ward Prowse Yosh Ramirez Nobody outside the top 5 or 6 has a bench like that so I don't buy this lack of depth etc Agree with the post re champs league. I think and hope we will get a point sun but can't see us winning. We need all of Chelsea arsenal and spurs to be in the hunt on the final day. Chelsea winning at Man U was terrible for us.

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bstokesaint added 12:20 - May 7 How on earth are we in this position?!! A few weeks back we were talking about 9th or 10th. It would be scandalous if we went down after some of the results and displays we've put in. That said though we have no divine right to stay up. I honestly think Wigan will win tonight, being at home against a Swansea team with little to play for. I think they will then draw or lose to Arsenal before winning against an already 'safe' Villa on the last day to see them home. That really worries me because we've already lost to a below par and out of from Sunderland side earlier in the season. I'd be delighted with a point there this weekend because I think 40 points with our goal difference should just see us home. We'd obviously have a second bite at the cherry against Stoke if needed, but I'd rather avoid that situation. Last week a colleague of mine had £10 on us being relegated at 80/1. At the weekend at one point we were 23/1 (although it's nearer 30/1 now). I'm still not that confident because we don't have any current form and we're not at the point of the season when you can afford to be out of form.

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SaintNick added 12:21 - May 7 Mike you have spent all season slagging off Fox and telling us how he is not good enough for the Championship let alone the Premier and yet now you tell us that he is a member of a substitutes bench better than anyone else out of the top five. I would actually dispute this. Kelvin Davis would struggle to get on any other prem bench Fox our views differ on him Mayuka, barely played and done nothing of note when he has Puncheon is ok but wouldn't get on many other clubs benches either Ward prowse barely gets on ours usually and rarely gets on Yosh usually plays Ramirez usually plays but is usually inneffective

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saint22 added 12:49 - May 7 If only we ain't gifted Wigan 4 points this season hey? We would be all safe and they would be gone, how we may rue those two poor showings
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Scummer added 12:51 - May 7 Odds from Sky Bet: Stoke (Pld 36 Pts 41 GD -10) - 100/1 May 12 - Tottenham H May 19 - Southampton A Fulham (Pld 36 Pts 40 GD -11) - 50/1 May 12 - Liverpool H May 19 - Swansea A Aston Villa (Pld 36 Pts 40 GD -21) - 25/1 May 11 - Chelsea H May 19 - Wigan A Southampton (Pld 36 Pts 39 GD -11) - 33/1 May 12 - Sunderland A May 19 - Stoke H Sunderland (Pld 36 Pts 38 GD -12) - 9/2 May 12 - Southampton H May 19 - Tottenham A Norwich (Pld 36 Pts 38 GD -22) - 100/30 May 12 - West Brom H May 19 - Manchester City A Newcastle (Pld 36, Pts 38 GD -23) - 9/2 May 12 - QPR A May 19 - Arsenal H Wigan (Pld 35 Pts 35 GD -22) - 5/4 May 7 - Swansea H May 14 - Arsenal A May 19 - Aston Villa H

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Scummer added 12:53 - May 7 Also, a good analysis of how the team were set up against Spurs. It looks as if Pochettino has more in his tactical locker than just the high pressing game: http://www.eplindex.com/31750/tottenham-1-southampton-0-indepth-tactical-analysi
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simmo400 added 12:59 - May 7 If Saints were to loose the final two game it would mean we had only taken 2 points out of the last 24 availble. Relegation form and deserved.
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saint22 added 12:59 - May 7 A good analysis, although a goal would have been good So what does MP plan for the Mackems? Hooiveld look after Graham, he should be able too and Shaw should handle Johnson and when e drifts Davs or Cork like him up
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sidsaint added 15:29 - May 7 Can't see anything but a Wigan win tonight against a tired Swansea without Michu. We need to keep the 3 London teams scrapping for points until the end, so a Spurs win tomorrow would help and keep them in the hunt when they play Sunderland, same for Arsenal v Wigan and v Newcastle and Chelsea at Villa. Norwich may spring a surprise at Man City who may be on holiday, lets hope West Brom play at Norwich the way they played at SMS. Newcastle will surely beat QPR? Saw the game on tv last night, saw 2 big teams looking to cause havoc in penalty area from corners and free kicks, look out Saints. Apart from that we are much more skilful around the park although Johnson looked a handful as did Charlie Adam. I'm sure our coaching staff will have something worked out.

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montecristo added 19:02 - May 7 it is difficult to feel confident in view of recent results. i cant see us getting anything at Sunderland and I can only see a draw if that against Stoke. Our only hope is that Norwich fail to get any points from their last two likewise Newcastle, or we are down. Cortese really should have strengthened the side in January it could turn out to be a costly mistake.Why the gloom? Not enough up front, dare I say it but i think Lambert is past it now and Mayuka is useless. Plus our centre halves are nowhere near good enough.

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Scummer added 21:57 - May 7 Thanks, Swansea!!! Hope the players injured tonight make swift recoveries. Listening to Radio 5 it sounded like a real roller coaster of a game for the Wigan fans.
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