Saints face a big test at Elland Road
Games come and go and some will be harder than others, but the fact remains its a marathon and not a sprint and whilst each game is important, its the grand total that matters rather than an individual result.
Saints need to keeep averaging two points a game and take each six game segment as it happens, December has been identified as the crucial month that will make or break the season for the New year and its six games have to yield 12 points minimum.
So far its so good with 9 points out for the first three games and this means they travel to Yorkshire with a little bit of pressure off, if they lose then they are still on track for the months target, if they draw its a great step forward and if they win, its a massive massive statement to the rest of the division.
There is no reason why they cant win, they haave the squad, as was proved on Tuesday, does any other team in this league have a player of the calibre of Waigo who cant get in the starting 11 and once again this could be the key, Alan Pardew has options if things arent going well and if they are then he can stiffen up the side from the bench to see the game out.
Leeds will obviously be a tough game, in truth it probably wont come much tougher, but in certain respects Saints are more suited to playing away, so they have nothing to fear.
But Leeds record at home isnt the best in the division, Charlton have won 8 and drawn 2 compared to Leeds 7 & 3, and we all know who played them off the park for one of those draws, and Huddersfield have won 8 and drawn 3, if Saints get a result then it will be better than Leeds, Saints have nothing to fear if they play their usual game.
Big question will be whether David Connolly is fit, that could be the real key as could Morgan Schneiderlin who limped off against Norwich, however as Papa Waigo showed, Saints have plenty who can come in.
Alan Pardew has mentioned that we will see the Saints team play for the shirt, thats good to hear, I agree with his comment that Leeds are certainties to top this league, but Pardew will be quietly confident that as much as the first half of the season was Leeds's, the second half is looking on course to be Saints's.
Two thousand Saints fans will roar the team on and if do winthe game then December's total will be reached with two games to spare, if thats the case it would be a brave man who would bet against Saints reaching the play offs