I know some dont like the phrase "Must win games" but the fact is this is one that can truly be called that.
The visit of fellow relegation strugglers Sunderland is most definately a must win game for Saints, three points for us today will leave us in a good position going into the Xmas period whilst a defeat could see us back in the bottom three and several points adrift of safety, the bottom of the Premier league is that tight at present although its usually this time of year when things start to look a lot clearer for some teams once the New Year has been rung in.
With Adam Lallana being declared unfit Nigel Adkins has a few decisions to make, the first being what formation does he play, if he sticks with the 4-4-2 that he used against Reading that will mean leaving Ramirez out wide on the left, we will now find out if his tactical change against Reading was enforced with Ramirez still tired after his trip home, or whether the manager is able to adapt his formation to suit the opposition, if he does revert back to 4-5-1 with the Uraguayan in his usual role then it would mean either playing Jay Rodriguez as a winger which he clearly is not, or dropping him and putting Guly in the wide left role.
Whatever decision is made it is crucial to win the game at all costs, a win with things going right for us could see us leapfrog the Black Cats and put four points between us and third from bottom, but more importantly it would leave us within one win of bringing several other clubs into the battle for the drop with Fulham looking nervously over their shoulders.
Once again support is crucial its going to be a virtual full house, we need to be behind the team from start to finish and if there is only one goal in it, no excuses for leaving early especially if we are losing, laast minute goals change seasons as we well remember from our last season in the Premier.