A game between two evenly matched sides is in store at Victoria Park

If Saints didnt have the ten point deduction then they would be above Hartlepool on goal difference, so Saints fans who are expecting an easy time in the North East had better think again.

Truth is Saints have now played well over a third of the season and whatever way you look at it, it hasnt been a good start, after the highs of a month or so ago, Saints have reverted back to old habits and have dropped some silly points, meaning that they now sit 16 points off the play offs, the blunt fact is they aare running out of time to mount a serious charge towards the play offs and they need to kick start the season on Tuesday night.

Alan Pardew will know just what the problems are, but he will also know he hasnt got a lot of options to really change it.

But he does need to do something, Saints have apparently dropped 13 points after taking the lead in a game and thats far faar too many, defensively we have not been good enough and its in that area AP has to freshen things up, pace is needed in the back four, but perhaps the only option of that is to bring in Joseph Mills  at left back.

Pardew also perhaps needs to consider reverting back to 4-5-1, it was this formation that built the winning run up and we have to go back to basics, unfortunately to do this we have to sacrifice a striker and thats going to be unfair on someone as its not the forwards that have caused the problems.

Personally I would be bold, i would have a back four of Murty, Perry, Jaidi & Mills a midfield of Waigo, Schneiderlin, Hammond, James & Lallana with Lambert up front. An injection of both experience and pace at the back, lets get a grip on the game and then bring on Antonio and Connolly  to finish it off.

Saints season hangs in the balance at the moment, if they can get it back on track with their first league win in exactly a month, then promotion might still be achievable.         

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