Saints meet Ipswich Town in what is undoubtably the most important game of the season so far.

The past few months have seen Saints drop down from the fringes of the promotion race to the fringes of the basement battle, since losing to the Tractor Boys at Portman Road in the last week of November, Saints have played 16 league games managing only 3 wins, 7 draws and losing 6, a record that has seen them plummet down the league, that record doesnt seem to bad truth is that if we managed 12 points out of our final 12 games we would stay up, but when you consider that 2 of those wins came in the opening 3 games of the sequence with a draw sandwiched in between, then the picture looks bleak.

Put that was our real total is nine points from 13 games and if that sequence is repeated then it is going to be tight.

But truth is saints are a better side than their position suggests and there was much at Scunthorpe in Nigel Pearson's first game in charge to point to the fact that the season might just have turned, last week the team kept going till the end and got a deserved point, their was a spirit back in the side and Saints fans are expectant.

However having worked hard to turn the corner, Saints now have to build on the foundations, they now have3 difficult games including trips to Wolves and Blackpool so its important to get something out of the visit of Ipswich.

For their part Town are looking to get in the play offs and having spent a significant amount in the transfer window many are expecting Ipswich to be a good bet in the play off's if they reach it.

The glimmer of hope for Saints,  though is that their success has been built almost entirely on their home form, only Barnsley and Preston in the entire division have a worse record on the road than them.

For Saints, some would say thats its the most important game since our relegation, yes the games against Derby were important, but back then we were playing for promotion, now we are almost playing for the very survival of the Club and we have to take the chance of a win when we can.

If we beat ipswich, we go a long way towards survival, not only could we put real daylight between us and the bottom three but we could get a psycological boost of moving up the league as much as four places and thic could be crucial, we know saints have a better squad than those around them, but we also know that squad needs confidence.

Spirit Of the Dell Needed  

A win would restore that confidence and give the side some breathing space to go on the road to Wolves and Blackpool knowing the pressure is relived a little, after those its the big game of the season at St mary's when Leicester come calling, a win on Saturday takes all the pressure of that one that is for sure.

Hopefully after another week working with the squad, Nigel Pearson now knows a little bit more about his players, he has pledged to keep it simple and will probably change little from last weeks side, perhaps the return of Safri but thats all, in essence what has been the weakness of the season, in that our previous managers had too many players to pick from could now be our strength, if pearson can get it right in the starting line up he will have as strong a bench s any other Championship side.

So its all hands to the pump both on and off the pitch, Ipswich will bring down 2,500 fans and its going to be a big crowd, at least by this seasons standards, if you havent got a ticket, then get down there and buy one, your team needs you more than at any time in the last 45 years. The Spirit Of The Dell is needed more than ever !!!

Photo: Action Images

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