The answer shout it from the roof tops is YES THEY CAN !!!! however we might have to wait with United kicking off later on in the Saturday tea time game.
Saints head up to Upton Park knowing that if they win they could overtake Man Utd on goal difference, when the game starts at Upton Park we will be only two points behind Moyes men, however they have a plus 10 goal difference whilst we have plus 8, so that means that we almost certainly have to beat West Ham by three clear goals to overtake United given that they have scored four more goals than us at present.
But if we were to beat the Hammers by less than the required trio of goals we could possibly leapfrog United if they were to be beaten at Crystal palace in the 5.30 kick off as that would reduce their goal difference down.
By the time we kick off in East London we will also have seen the result in another London game, Everton visit Stamford Bridge at lunchtime and defeat for the Toffee's aligned with a victory for us would see us only three points behind them.
So for the teams in 6th -87th this Saturday its all eyes to London , from a Saints perspective, its a good chance to start putting some pressure on the two teams above us, at the end of the season its often better to chase than be chased and this is the time when if we hit some form and with both United and Everton not to mention Newcastle just behind us, we could do some sterling work at West ham to stand us in good stead for a barnstorming end of the season.