On Tuesday night Southampton beat Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium to see them go three points clear of the drop zone.
This result gets the Saints within touching distance of Premier League safety, however they are not entirely secure. Last night Huddersfield got an unlikely point against Chelsea which saw them ensure their safety for next season, despite many tipping them as late candidates for the drop.
With the Terriers safe and the Saints winning the night before, West Brom’s fate was confirmed meaning either Mark Hughes’ side or the Swans are the only two teams capable of securing Premier League safety on the final day.
Southampton are in pole position to do just that, but unfortunately for their supporters their status as a team in the top flight cannot be mathematically confirmed until the end of Sunday’s fixtures.
Next: Swansea 0-1 Southampton: Match recap
The Saints have a much better goal difference than many of those around them at -18, meaning there is a currently a nine-goal swing between them and the Swans who sit on -27.
Now on most occasions, such a difference would seem improbable to overturn in one game, but not when you look at Southampton’s opponents this weekend. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll be aware that the Saints face the daunting task of going up against Manchester City this weekend – a team who have scored 25 more goals than any other team in the division.
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The champions’ 105 league goals are more than any other side has recorded in the Premier League era, whilst no other team has recorded 31 wins and 97 points in a single campaign and the team still have one game to play.
Whilst the reverse fixture was a respectable 2-1 to the Manchester side, they have been totally ruthless all season and with no other competitions to prepare for, they could easily name a full-strength side and go out and romp the Saints this Sunday.
City have scored five goals in four separate league matches this season meaning there’s a good chance they could do it again at the weekend. The Saints will need to grind out a solid defensive performance.
Assuming City do run away as hefty victors, the Swans good steal 17th with a solid win over Stoke. If the Saints somehow lose 6-0 then Swansea would need to win by four goals against the already-relegated Potters, but it isn’t that easy.
Swansea have scored less goals than any other team in the league at just 27 meaning a big return like that isn’t hugely likely – something which works in Southampton’s favour.
However, the poetry that the side that sacked Mark Hughes losing by so many it relegates his new side is too much to ignore. Southampton’s players must avoid all complacency as this remains just as important a match as any of those who have proceeded it.