Bailey

It's weird how it works out isn't it? So many of the teams in the relegation dogfight are all to face each other in the last few games of the season. Also, the games on the final day of the season are huge! Charlton v Norwich Nottm Forest v Southampton Plymouth v Barnsley Swansea v Blackpool Watford v Derby Wolverhampton v Doncaster

If Lallana is fit, put him in the hole to replace McGoldrick, with Schneiderlin to continue out on the right. That way, Euell is still up top with Saganowski. Lallana is often wasted out wide and he tends to drift inside more often than not anyway. We need to get him on the ball and play through him to get the best out of him. ------------------ Davis ----------------- James ----- Saeijs ----- Perry ----- Skacel ---------------- Gillett ------------------- ----- Schneiderlin ----- Surman ----------- ---------------- Lallana ------------------ ------------ Saga ----- Euell -------------

Derby (H) QPR (H) Blackpool (A) Charlton (H) Watford (A) Is it possible to win ALL FIVE of these games? Whilst it's definitely a big ask, I don't think it's totally out of the question . . . Thoughts?

We have a winner!

Derby is very much a must-win game, but I believe we can do it. I also think we're capable of getting three points against QPR too. If we continue to play with the hunger and desire that we've shown of late, then we might just be alright.

I don't think it made things worse, but it didn't have the desired impact. Having said that, McGoldrick was very quiet first half and we were losing the midfield battle. It made perfect sense to drop Euell a little bit deeper to act as our ball winner, but it didn't work out as planned. As for Smith coming on for Skacel, I think Wotte's thinking was to try and be a bit more positive and attacking with the game drawing to a close. Surman was a passenger for much of the game, so shifting him to LB wasn't a massive deal. Smith failed to deliver though and I have to admit I haven't been impressed by him at all. If he wants to earn a long-term contract at Saints, he needs to pull his finger out.

Birmingham were strong, direct and very physical. They didn't look like the greatest footballing side, but they have a habit of grinding out results which is why they're up there in the automatic promotion places. Their back four is superb. Each player could arguably still do a job in The Prem even now. It was a good effort from Saints, although I don't think we ever really looked like scoring, but we battled away, got stuck in and on another day could have come away with a point. Having said that, Birmingham probably deserved the win, especially considering they should have had a couple of penalties! Anyway, this game was always going to be difficult, it's the games against Derby, Blackpool, Charlton and Watford that are important. Any points today would have been seen as a bonus IMO. Still a long way to go, and plenty of points to play for. It looks as though it's going right to the wire again though!

. . . that we weren't in the bottom three? I can't remember for the life of me! It seems as though we've been stuck in there for ages. Hopefully a win at Birmingham will get us out of it mind!

After the Sheffield United game I was adament that we were heading for League One. However, three wins in three has made me think that we have given ourselves a fighting chance. There is still ALOT of work to be done, but Wotte seems to be getting the players playing well and working for one another. So far so good, but still a long way to go. Credit where it's due though.

What a fantastic result! I saw someone predicted this scoreline on the other thread and I literally laughed out loud. I wouldn't have thought we'd be sitting here after ANOTHER win. Seen the goals on SkySportsNews too and all 3 are pretty well taken, especially Paterson's goal. Very frustrating that we've won 3 in a row and yet we're STILL in the bottom 3. We've just got to keep this form going and get something from the game on Saturday.

Fully deserves it too IMO.

Fully deserves it too IMO.

An entertaining 1-1 draw for me.

Don't know if anyone realised but Wotton was out on the pitch warming-up with the players before the Cardiff game. He was obviously there to keep the players motivated and to put his experience to good use. I noticed he was having an in-depth chat with Svensson and Gorre when the players were doing their warm-up routine with the physio. Maybe he's having a bigger say in things than we first thought?

That Davis save gets better every time you watch it! And we should have had a second penalty when Saga was tripped in the box IMO. How Perry got away with that handball at the end I'll never know.

http://www.football.virginmedia.com/page/Football/Championship/VideoIndex/0,,12555,00.html?mvnAssetId=3748994 Slightly better coverage than what we get on The Championship anyway!

Clear-cut in my opinion. Having said that, Perry's was just as blatent and we were fortunate to get away with that, although we're due a bit of luck!

I haven't really heard many people on here saying we are definitely going to stay up after our last 2 games. However, people seem to be saying that we've given ourselves a fighting chance, where as before we were convinced we were heading for League One. Make no mistake about it, we still have ALOT of work to do, but we are making steps in the right direction. Under Wotte, there seems to be a new found desire and passion. The team are working as a unit and things are improving.

The atmosphere around the whole ground was pretty good today in fairness. Might it have had something to do with Skacel getting the crowd going whenever possible?

Fantastic to end Cardiff's unbeaten run, and it makes them wait even longer for a win at our place. 48 years I think it'll be now! Everyone played their part today, not one player put in a bad performance. It wasn't the best display I've ever seen, but everyone fought for every ball and worked hard for one another. Today, Saints displayed the fighting spirit that is needed if we are to haul ourselves out of the relegation zone. Fair play to the boys! Wotte has got them playing more direct and it appears to be paying off. Lets hope we can keep the momentum going with another win at Ipswich.

Saeijs was first class. Won almost every header and has formed a fantastic partnership with Perry at the back. Gillett was top draw too. He broke the play up superbly and for a little lad, he isn't afraid to get stuck in and put himself about. I haven't always been convinced by Gillett, but in the last few games we've really started to see the best of him.

Can't believe some on here! Where were you looking? Davis' save was top draw and had it not been for him today, we'd all be typing away in frustration at not getting that much needed win. Today's result gives us a fighting chance. Lets hope we can get something from Ipswich and keep the momentum going.

http://www.cardiff.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=145365 Would seem that Cardiff are bringing a couple of thousand to the game. Should make for a good atmosphere!

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/articles/article.php?page_id=11421&cp=10 Jake Thomson is in the above picture alongside Matt Paterson. Does this mean that his loan move to Bournemouth fell through? I know there was a rumour that the loan extension hadn't been finalised for whatever reason, but I didn't hear any more after that. Anyone able to clear this one up?

18,427 in my opinion.