A look at how the other fixtures may affect Saints.

The priority for Saints must be to keep that gap between us and 3rd, although some would see it as widening the gap between us and West Ham so to ensure that the Hammer's cant overtake us on the Saturday of next weekend and we can therefore sing "We're top of the league" at Fratton Park, whilst this isnt a priority, it shouldnt be dismissed as a happy clappy wish, it would be a big boost if we can go to Fratton top, but that means us winning tomorrow against Blackpool and hopefully WEst Ham slipping up tomorrow.

They head to Reading for a game that at first glance looks to be a banana skin for them, but a closer look reveals that Rading have got over half their 27 points away from home and at the Madjeski their record is average to say the least, but in our favour is that Reading are hanging on in there and know that a good win against the Hammers will put them back in the play off race, but on the road West ham are the best in the division by far so that wont be an easy task for Reading, best we can hope for I thinnk is a draw, however that would mean two points dropped and thats good.

Cardiff in third travel to Millwall, the Lions are picking up slightly lately despite a defeat at Leeds last week, so again are capable of picking up at least a draw, in some respects vital for Saints to see the welshmen dropping points, some may still sing about being top of the table here, but a Cardiff win at Millwall aligned with us failing to beat Blackpool could see us not only not visiting Fratton top of the league but having been pushed to third the previous day and this is something we do not want to see happen.

Middlesbrough in 3rd are hanging on in there and can at last start to see our tails in the distance, they host brighton themselves hanging on to the chasing play off hopefuls, probably another draw would suit us and with Boro having drawn 6 of their 10 home games its a possibility.

Leeds & Hull on 33 & 34 respectively will be hoping to make ground on us, Leeds go to Watford whose home record shows they are just as likely to lose as win whilst Hull quietly getting on with it whilst headlines got to others visit Coventry a game that looks a guaranteed away three points.

Leicester were and still aare one of my tps for promotion, however for an automatic spot they have a lot to do and that may be beyond them,but they will be the big danger in the play offs, they will sepnd in the January transfer window, from a Saints point of view in case we should only make the play offss, I would like to see them miss out, that means them dropping a lot of points between now and their spree in the New year, can Peterborough help dent their hopes ? its a game that should have goals in it.

Lastly poor old Pompey, if they were a racehorse they would have been humanely put down by now, they have just managed to keep their heads above the relegation zone because of their great home record, to put it in perspective its as good as Cardiff's, but on the road its a different matter and a trip to Burnley who have shot up the league table courtesy of three straight wins looks a lot harder than it did a few weeks ago, lets hope so.       

Photo: Action Images

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