After the hysteria of Wigan’s FA Cup win last night, Southampton and their supporters must now regain focus ahead of one of their most important months of Premier League football this decade.
The Saints were handed a massive lifeline yesterday in their quest for FA Cup success, as Wigan produced the surprise of the tournament by knocking out favourites Manchester City in the fifth round.
But now attention must return to their upcoming away fixture against Burnley and the fixtures that follow, with the next month potentially determining the Saints’ final position come May.
Despite their form Sean Dyche’s side will prove no easy opposition, but with all respect to the seventh-placed team they don’t compare to the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City which Southampton face in the final weeks.
After the game against the midlands side, Southampton face Stoke City and then Newcastle to start the month of March, with both sides sitting within two points of Mauricio Pellegrino’s team currently.
Next: Saints 1-2 West Brom: Match recap
Whilst the Premier League table will no doubt shift and change before the Saints meet Stoke, the Potters are the only side beneath the Saints who they are yet to play. Therefore the clash at St. Mary’s Stadium will be the definition of the cliched six-pointer.
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With the game against the Latics set to take place during the weekend of the 17th of March, it remains unclear as to when Southampton will face Swansea City, with the postponed match yet to be given a rearranged date.
Whatever side of the FA Cup tie it falls on, the Saints will also travel to face West Ham before April rolls around, concluding what could be a season-defining period for Southampton.
Among other factors, the money involved in Premier League survival is truly astonishing, and as proven with the aforementioned Wigan and other cases such as Sunderland, Blackburn and Bolton, relegation doesn’t instantly equal a bounce-back promotion if you’re a larger side.
The Saints have stuck by Mauricio Pellegrino despite just five wins and 28 goals in 27 league games so far this season – he needs to repay this faith with at least nine to ten points between now and the start of April. The fate of the club depends on it.