Saints know just what they have to do against the Magpies.

After Bournemouth's defeat at Colchester left them still a point behind Saints now having played one game more, it meant that Eddie Howe doesnt leave the Cherries with them looking down on Saints even if only for the time the ink will be wet on his new contract with Burnley.

Saints task tomorrow is therefore straightforeward, beat Notts County and keep the pressure on Brighton, of course there is an outside chance that Saints could go top of the league if they win and Brighton lose at home to Peterborough, but that would be a bonus, the first task is to put more ground between ourselves and the chasing pack.

Nigel Adkins is being a lot less predictable than he was earlier in the season with his selections and it will be interesting to see if the rotation system of late was instigated merely because of the number og games in a short time or whether its something he is going to use more often, certainly with Saints game against Charlton at home now being rearranged again, its possibly something he doesnt have to consider if he doesnt want to and he may feel that the emphasis tomorrow is to put out his strongest side and get the points in the bag before perhaps making a few substitutions.

Notts County arent great on the road, 21 of their 28 points have been at Meadow Lane whilst on their travels they have won 2 drawn 2 and lost 6, scoring 13 and conceding 18, the only side to do worse is MK Dons.

Paul Ince must dread Saints, last season he faced us four times as boss of MK Dons, he lost all four, 4-1 at SMS in the league, 1-0 at home at MK in the JPT, 3-1 in the return at SMS and finaly 3-0 in the league at stadium MK, he must have been sick of the sight of us last season.

If he thought his luck was changing in his first game as County boss earlier in the season as his side led 1-0 with 20 or so minutes left on the clock he was wrong as Saints hit the par score for a game against Ince and netted three goals.

Of course this wekend will be no pushover, although Ince's side start the day in 16th only six points off the relegation zone, they also know that on the other hand a win would push them up towards the play offs and they come here buoyant after their great win at Sunderland.

The name of the game for Saints fans will be patience, after five straight wins with 19 goals scored, many will come expecting to see Saints rout the visotrs, but football isnt always like that, Saints are good enough as they showed at County, to win games late on if they have to, as they have proved twice at home when overcoming a one goal deficit to win the game on two occasions, Oldham nad Huddersfield as well as the away game against our opponents this weekend, that total of nine points is as good as virtually any team in the division, up until their win against Bournemouth on Friday night Colchester had the best points total coming from behind with 11, its now 14 and although Saints wont want to push their tally up to 12, the supporters have to be prepared to realise that Saints cant play like world beaters every week, but in the main we have the strength to overcome set backs.

Saints firepower should win through in what could be a pivital week in the race for promotion from League 1              

Photo: Action Images

Southampton Polls