With several of the clubs around them dropping points in Saturday's run of games, Saints have an opportunity to apply some pressure.

It is not going to be an easy task this afternoon but a win at Leicester City would provide a big boost to Saints hopes of qualifying for Europe.

Liverpool drawing with Spurs was perhaps the result most Saints fans wanted, it meant that should Saints beat Leicester then Tottenham would not gain too much ground on the Foxes, likewise Liverpool failed to draw level on points with Saints and a win at the King Power would put us five points clear of the Merseyside club although they will still have two games in hand.

But perhaps the most significant result of the day was West Ham's failure to beat Crystal Palace at home, this looked a banker for the Hammers, but the Eagles battling for a draw was good for Saints although we really do need to beat Leicester to make this advantage count as West Ham will have a game in hand after today and the number of games left is running out.

Another good result was Swansea's comeback at Stoke City, a win for the Potters would have sent them two points clear again, but the draw leaves them level on points with us and again is a significant result for us, all teams need not just to rely on their own results but a little bit of luck elsewhere.

Manchester City's demolition of Bournemouth was perhaps the only blot on the day, that leaves them seven points ahead of us on Sunday morning and whatever the result at Leicester they will still have a game in hand on us, the real problem being that that is a big gap as the number of games left gets less and less.

So it was a reasonable day for Saints yesterday and now they need to take the opportunity offered and improve their position.

Photo: Action Images

Southampton Polls