Saints had an unexpected boost in the race for fifth place when Liverpool suffered a surprise defeat at Hull City.
Saints now find themselves only one point behind both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur after the Merseyside club went down 1-0 at Hull City.
This really opens out the race for fifth place and leaves Saints with a great chance of attaining their highest league position since 1985, a feat if which achieved will equal our second best ever League finish.
Liverpool now face QPR at Anfield on Saturday and the hope for Saints ands is that Rangers can get a result up on Merseyside whilst we win up at Sunderland, Spurs face Manchester City at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
In their final three fixtures Liverpool travel to Chelsea followed by a home game with Crystal Palace and end the season at Stoke City.
Spurs final three starts with a trip to Stoke, followed by a home game with Hull City ad ends at Everton
The season is now very finely balanced for all three clubs, but the reality for Saints is that we have every chance to win at last three of our final four games and if we do so that may be good enough for fifth but almost certainly would be for sixth and that would of course guarantee a Europa League spot.