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Southampton: How does the Saints’ run-in compare to their relegation rivals?

By Marc Walker

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: General view outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Southampton and Liverpool at St Mary's Stadium on February 11, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: General view outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Southampton and Liverpool at St Mary's Stadium on February 11, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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A lot of importance has been placed upon Southampton’s upcoming run of games that could be so important to their Premier League survival.

Four consecutive games against Stoke, Newcastle, Swansea (subject to change due to FA Cup commitments) and West Ham have the potential to give the Saints some breathing space and ease relegation fears.

Matches against Leicester and Bournemouth could also provide points, but Mauricio Pellegrino’s side still have Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton and Manchester City to play too. It would help the Saints a lot if less pressure was on these games, but realistically the team have to be prepared for anything.

Results of the other teams at the bottom of the table will also be keenly monitored by Southampton fans sweating over the prospect of relegation. With that in mind, how does Saints’ last ten games compare to the other teams that currently make up the bottom seven?

The table below shows the final 10 games those teams:

H’field

Town

14th

30 ptsNewcastle United

15th

29 ptsSouthampton

16th

27 ptsCrystal Palace

17th

27 ptsSwansea City

18th

27 ptsStoke City

19th

26 ptsWest Brom

20th

20 pts1Spurs

(away)Liverpool

(away)Stoke

(home)Man

United

(home)West

Ham

(home)Soton

(away)Watford

(away)2Swansea (home)Soton

(home)Newcastle

United

(away)Chelsea

(away)H’field

Town

(away)Man

City

(home)Leicester

(home)3Crystal Palace (home)Spurs

(away)Swansea

(away)H’field

Town

(away)Soton

(home)Everton

(home)B’mouth

(away)4Newcastle United (away)H’field

Town

(home)West Ham

(away)Liverpool

(home)Man

United

(away)Arsenal

(away)

Burnley

(home)5Brighton (away)Leicester (away)Arsenal

(away)B’mouth

(away)West

Brom

(away)Spurs

(home)Swansea

(home)6Watford (home)Arsenal

(home)Chelsea

(home)Brighton

(home)Everton

(home)West

Ham

(away)Man

United

(away)7Chelsea (away)Everton

(away)Leicester (away)Watford

(away)Man

City

(away)Burnley

(home)Liverpool

(home)

8Everton (home)West Brom (home)B’mouth (home)Leicester

(home)Chelsea

(home)Liverpool

(away)Newcastle

United

(away)9Man City (away)Watford

(away)Everton

(away)Stoke

(away)B’mouth

(away)Crystal

Palace

(home)Spurs

(home)10Arsenal (home)Chelsea

(home)Man City

(home)West

Brom

(home)Stoke

(home)Swansea

(away)Crystal

Palace

(away)

Games against the top six are almost dreaded at this stage of the season, but a surprise result could provide vital bonus points for those in danger of the drop.

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What we can see from these final fixtures is that Saints still have three of the top six to play; as do both West Brom, Swansea and Crystal Palace. Huddersfield, Newcastle and Stoke have four games against the Premier League’s big guns.

However, it is the games against the teams around you that gets you out of trouble. It will perhaps be significant that Swansea have six games left against bottom half team, whilst Saints and Palace have five. Newcastle only have three matches left against teams below halfway.

What is clear is that Saints will have to make use of their games against direct rivals. Having dropped points against the likes of Swansea, Stoke, Newcastle and Crystal Palace in previous games, it is vitally important that they find a way to win upcoming fixtures against sides of a similar level.

BURNLEY, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 24: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton looks on ahead of the Premier League match between Burnley and Southampton at Turf Moor on February 24, 2018 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
BURNLEY, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 24: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton looks on ahead of the Premier League match between Burnley and Southampton at Turf Moor on February 24, 2018 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images) /

West Brom look to be almost gone from the Premier League as poor performance levels, a toxic atmosphere at the club and a six point deficit to nearest rivals Stoke go against them. With 30 points to play for though, anyone has the chance to drag themselves away.

A favourable fixture list compared to some of the teams around them simply has to be taken advantage of by Saints. An improved level of performance in some of their recent matches can give fans hope, and a vital point at Burnley last weekend could be vital come May.

Next: Bednarek must now step up

The four games coming up have the chance to ease the pressure, and could even propel Mauricio Pellegrino’s side into the top half such is the congestion in the lower section of the league this season.

The fight for safety could go right down to the wire, but Saints really should have the quality to save their top flight status for at least another campaign.