Saints need to make it two in a row.
Saints approach the first of two games in three days knowing that if they now start fulfill their potential they could push themselves not only into plus points but on the verge of coming out of the bottom 4, both significant steps in the season.
Alan Pardew does of course have a few decisions to make, the first one is whether he retains 4-4-2 or reverts to the 4-5-1 formation he has favoured away from home and the second is just whop plays.
First question will be whether Wayne Thomas is fit, if he doesnt pass muster then that could make Pardew's job a little easier, this would push Lloyd James back to right back and allow Pardew to bring in some genuine width into the midfield.
Last week pardew was in a dilemma, James and Lallana have been outstanding in recent weeks, but where do you play them, at home James alongside Hammond is too defensive, it has a lot of battling but no passing and Lallana is wasted out wide.
If Pardew does revert to 4-4-2, James at right back will bring a better balance to the midfield, he could bring Lallana into the centre and out wide employ Mills and perhaps Waigo, however even if he stays cautious and does go with 5 in the middle it also gives him options.
Its now down to Saints to take games to teams, to be blunt we should be walloping teams, whilst everyone has accepted that we have had to start our pre season preparation virtually as the season started, it has been used as an excuse for far too long, we now have a foundation of unbeaten games behind us, we now need to kick on and put in a winning run.
For their part Carlisle have made just as bad a start as Saints, 8 points from 8 games, achieved slightly diffferently in that they have won 2 and drawn 2, losing 4. The two wins have not been against great opposition, a 3-0 drubbing of Tranmere at home three weeks ago was predictable given Rovers form, and back in August they won at Stockport 2-1.
They come into the game on the back of three straight losses, Pompey of course beat them in midweek and prior to that 2-0 defeats away to Oldham and at home to Brighton.
In fact there home form is terrible, in the league three defeats with only a solitary win against Tranmere as mentioned.
So there is no reason why Saints shouldnt go there and like fellow South Coast clubs Exeter and Brighton put them to the sword.