By the end of October Saints supporters will know just how sustainable the promotion push is.
The accusation levelled at Saints from some quarters, well all points east of Fareham to be exact, is that our position at the top of the league is false due to the quality of opponents that we have faced so far, certainly at the moment there is evidence to suggest that, most of the teams we have played have been in the bottom half orin poor form when we have met them and our two defeats have both been against teams who will challenge for promotion.
However we are about to get the chance to prove that the old adage of "you can only play what is in front of you" is correct and that we can beat the better teams in this division, as we now face a run of four games, three of which are against sides in the top six and the remaining one against Reading a team noted for their ability to steadily climb the league as the season progresses.
It is important to take at least 8 points out of these games, not only to maintain that two point ration per game, but also to put a dent in the challenge of our rivals, but it wont be easy.
First up is the trip to Derby County, traditionally a place where we have never done well and there could not be a better time to change that, ideally in this run two wins and two draws would give us our eight points, but if we could catch Derby on the hop and come away with all three points, then it would be a great confidence booster.
That game is quickly followed by the midweek visit of West Ham to St Mary's, with their big name squad the Hammers themselves will be looking to come here and win, but we have to make sure that its still fortress St Mary's and send them away packing.
Reading away looks the easiest of the fixtures, however they are a well organised side who are now starting to regroup after losing several key players in the summer and it will be no cake walk.
Finally its Middlesbrough at home, at time of writing this would be the big one, first V second, however a lot could have changed for either side in the two weeks prior to the fixture and league positions may be far different.
If Saints can come through this quartet of games not only unbeaten but with a minimum of eight points then they will have really posted their notice of intent that they are serious contenders in the promotion race.
Last season for 2/3 of it there was a feeling that we were something of flat track bullies reliant on our home form, there was some substance to that in that until March we seemed to be able to win our home games but too often drop silly points away from home, as defeats to the likes of Carlisle, Tranmere & Walsall showed, however when it counted at the end of the season we came good, we now need to do the same now, but not leave it so late, less than eight points from these games will probably see us there or thereabouts in the play off race, but as Nicola Cortese says we have to reach for the Sun and we might get the stars, what that means is that we should always strive to achieve the best we can, last season we finally got that winning mentality and continued it into this season, however I see evidence that the fans at least are losing it, after both the defeats there seemed to be an attitude amongst some that we were top of the league so why complain.
Thats not the attitude that Cortese has and im sure Nigel Adkins feels every defeat.
By the end of October we will have played 14 games, almost a third of the season will be gone, by then either the rest of the division will consider us serious contenders for automatic promotion, or they will see us as just a side that has started well but doesnt have what it takes to sustain that challenge.