Saints take on Fulham at St Mary's on Saturday having drawn level with Derby County's record low Premier League points total of 11, now the task is to get at least a point to leave the Rams with the sole custody of that mark of shame.

Fulham arrive at St Mary's on Saturday sitting in 9th place in the Premier League, they have high hopes of a top 8 finish with Bournemouth just a point above them in that position, but that is about as high as they can go with 7th placed Aston Villa still 9 points ahead of them.

However they are part of a group of 5 teams beginning with Crystal Palace in 12th on 44 points and ending with the Cherries on the top with 49, who are vying for anywhere between 9th & 12th.

So on the face of it the Cottagers have something to play for, but out of those 5 teams only Brentford are worse on the road.

Add to that, their recent form which has seen them in their last 8 Premier League games stretching back two months win only 3 games and lose the other 5, they seem to be a side where it is very much a case of win or bust.

So Saints have a great chance of getting something in this game, Fulham aren't a high scoring team of late, which is another piece of good news, given we aren't much cop at defending, however they should not be underestimated after beating Liverpool at home a few weeks ago.

But Saints go into this game perhaps with the most confidence they have had all season, they are not manacled to the 100% possession football game in all situations that cost us so many goals in the early part of the season under Russell Martin, also gone is the scattergun approach of Ivan Juric, where week from week, the squad could only guess who would be in and out and what formation we would play.

Simon Rusk has brought some stability to the side, Ok he still doesn't have the best squad in the Premier League to work with, but by keeping it simple and with the players knowing that it is not going to be change for change's sake with each game, we have a chance of getting something out of most of the remaining 5 games.

Now all that matters is getting that single point that means we avoid being the joint worst Premier League team of all time, at least so far.

Of the final games, this one against Fulham, and the trips to Leicester and Everton are games we could get a point in, Manchester City at home and Arsenal perhaps not so much, so given this game is at home this is very much our best chance of gaining that point.

Southampton fans deserve to see a home win, in fact even a draw would be a blessed relief given our record of only a single win and a draw at home with 13 defeats adding up to 17 games of woe.

But that is all in the past, we have to now look to the future and the first objective is to get that point !

All Photos Via Reuters

Bowlercow added 11:05 - Apr 23 Strangely enough I think the last game of the season at home to Arsenal is our best chance of a point By then they will be confirmed as runners up and may still have a couple of finals to play.In any event I am looking forward to the Fulham game but I am still only hoping for,rather than anticipating, a win.
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SaintPaulVW added 12:39 - Apr 23 My money is on the Leicester game.
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underweststand added 13:04 - Apr 23 Historically, some of our best results came against high-flying sides with unbeaten records who had little else to play for. Man. City only managed one goal against us on their home turf, and despite losing we were worth more from the October trip to the Emirates. Given our record against Leicester, it's about time we got one back on them, especially as we will be playing them again next season. Our wins against Everton at Goodison were measured in decades until last season, but a point there is almost as good as a win. Fulham were all over us in the away game, so the one point there was quite impressive.

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saintmark1976 added 13:08 - Apr 23 Hope springs eternal, but just the ultimate confirmation regarding Sports Republic’s total inability to own and successfully manage a Football Club. Two relegations in three years and success is gauged as being able to avoid being known as the worst team ever to play in the Premier League. They really are utterly pathetic.
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