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Southampton: Saints are down but not out

By Edward Waugh

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 31: Mark Hughes, Manager of Southampton reacts during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Southampton at London Stadium on March 31, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 31: Mark Hughes, Manager of Southampton reacts during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Southampton at London Stadium on March 31, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images) /
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Following Southampton’s disappointing 3-0 defeat away to fellow relegation battlers West Ham, there has a somewhat defeated mood among the Saints’ fan base.

You can consider this understandable – the south coast club took another sleepwalking stride towards the Championship in what can easily be considered the Saints’ worst performance this season.

Many fans can sympathise with each other right now, that our beloved club look unlikely to escape the grasp of said dreaded drop zone – however before you write off Mark Hughes’ men, there are a few reasons to how Southampton can still be saved.

The main one being the club’s fixture list, and though you’ll question that when looking at it, the most crucial game on it has now become the away trip to Welsh-side Swansea City, but why is that?

Well for one, The Swans sit only three points above Southampton in the table, both teams also boast a similar goal difference – meaning who ever takes victory in this fixture, could effectively send the other down.

Next: West Ham 3-0 Saints: Player ratings

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 12: Southampton’s Oriol Romeu during the Premier League match between Southampton and Swansea City at St Mary’s Stadium on August 12, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 12: Southampton’s Oriol Romeu during the Premier League match between Southampton and Swansea City at St Mary’s Stadium on August 12, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images) /

This game would also have a huge impact for Southampton, it being a game in hand over fellow Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace and Huddersfield Town.

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Saints sit off both of these teams by two and three points respectively, and with picking up the win in this given game, would leapfrog both teams due to more points or by having a more superior goal difference.

However, this all boils down to one crucial factor – being that, the commitment of the players and how they approach this final stretch of the season.

For one, you’ll know that Mark Hughes has the experience under his belt to get the best out of this squad, to which we saw very briefly against Wigan with a great second half performance – though it is yet to be seen across a whole game in that has more importance such as West Ham.

You would also have to agree that the current crop of players in the squad are way too talented to be sat in this predicament, and that as a fan you would expect a lot better and can only hope Hughes works a miracle in getting this team to come out all guns blazing.

If this can be achieved, then Southampton will give themselves the best chance possible in avoiding the drop – being highly dependent on the Swansea game might not be enough, but with the potential to take the game to other teams, Saints would however, give us the hope of winning Premier League survival.