On Sunday firstly Saints have to win their game and guarantee 7th place, then they can look to results elsewhere, but could our near neighbours AFC Bournemouth do us a massive favour up at Old Trafford.

Saints fans will be looking to the Hawthorns and Old Trafford on Sunday, but could Saints best chance of sneaking into the top six come in Manchester and not the West Midlands.

Although on the face of things the chances of Bournemouth beating United at Old Trafford look slim, it could be that events surrounding Louis Van Gaal weigh heavily on the team.

If Manchester City were to take an early lead in their game at Swansea, that would seep though to the crowd at Old Trafford and cause unrest especially if United had failed to score themselves in the opening exchanges.

The supporters would start to get restless as a potential failure to reach the Champions League and that added to the general sense of unrest about Van Gaal amongst United's supporters could create an atmospher that could become very toxic and almost impossible for United to play in front of.

This could create an opportunity for the Cherries to reap the benefit as United's support goes into meltdown and its team starts to crack.

Certainly at West Ham United's players looked a shadow of their former selves and given that many of them haven't been that great to start with anyway, a shock Bournemouth win could be on the cards.

When Saints won up there in January the supporters were restless and turning on their team long before Charlie Austin delivered the killer blow, on Sunday it is likely to be ten times worse.

So Saints best chance of sneaking a top six place might not lie with Stoke City holding West Ham, but in Manchester United's own fan base turning on its own team !

Photo: Action Images

IanRC added 15:36 - May 12 Not holding my breath on that one. The main thing for us to focus on is beating Crystal Palace, let's see how the chips fall after that.
1

ChristchurchSaint added 15:37 - May 12 If all the results went our way, we could end up 5th, that would be a definite achievement. Come on you reds! ( Saints and Bournemouth- though it would be a first for me to say the latter!)
0

Big_T added 16:31 - May 12 No
1

saintmark1976 added 20:29 - May 12 Sorry to say it Nick but if we had not played like a bunch of muppets when we played them at their place we would not now need them to do us a favour. Without doubt the lowest point of the whole season.
1

SanMarco added 22:41 - May 12 I agree with Big T's concise view
0

SanMarco added 23:00 - May 12 I also see Koeman is on the top of Everton's shortlist: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/12/everton-ronald-koeman-roberto-m
0

Bettwsresident added 06:46 - May 13 He would be the top of just about anybodies list
0

BUCK added 13:39 - May 13 I do too even need to read this. The answer will be no. Man u will be wanting to finish on a high and will stuff Bournemouth at least 3 or maybe 4 nil or 1. Let's not get too excited. I for one would love that to happen but in a real world it won't. Simples
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Southampton Polls