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'The Saints are coming' if rivals keep slipping up
TL;DR
Southampton remains unbeaten in their last 18 matches across all competitions, raising hopes for automatic promotion. Their performance could capitalize on rivals' recent struggles.
Key points
- Southampton is unbeaten in 18 matches
- The team is aiming for automatic promotion
- Rivals are currently struggling
[BBC]
Southampton are unbeaten across their past 18 matches in all competitions [Shutterstock]
Just before Saints played Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-final, I was asked on our Total Saints Podcast if I thought that automatic promotion was still a possibility?
My response was that, in the real world, it wasn't but let's have a look again if we can win our next two league games against play-off contenders, Wrexham and Derby.
Fast forward a couple of weeks and those games have been won, as has a further game at home to Blackburn and then you start looking at the teams around you.
Middlesbrough, Hull and Millwall all seem to be faltering to different degrees, which leaves Ipswich, who, on the night we comfortably dispatched Blackburn, managed to lose to Portsmouth.
No Saints fan is ever happy when Portsmouth win, but we were pleased that Ipswich lost.
Suddenly, we are just three points behind the Tractor Boys and we still have to play them.
Until that point, Saints can only take care of Swansea away and Bristol City at home, and as a long-suffering fan, I am just waiting for the wheels to fall off, with the 'game every four days' run of fixtures we are on at the moment.
If we take care of our own business and are still in touch with Ipswich going into that huge game on 28 April at St Mary's, then who knows?
Right now, Ipswich are still the favourites to go up automatically because they have a three-point lead and a game in hand, but they will be looking over their shoulders now and that brings pressure, especially when one team chasing you down is on an 18-game unbeaten run and has won six league matches in a row.
The fact we have to play Ipswich straight after we have had an emotional and energy-sapping day chasing Manchester City around at Wembley, will also be in their favour.
The most likely outcome is that Saints, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Hull will be in the play-offs.
At St Mary's, Saints walk out to a punk anthem by The Skids from 1978 called "The Saints are Coming".
Any more slips and our rivals for that second automatic promotion spot will be hearing those words.
Q&A
How many matches have Southampton gone unbeaten in?
Southampton are currently unbeaten in their last 18 matches across all competitions.
What impact could Southampton's performance have on promotion?
If Southampton continues their unbeaten streak, they could take advantage of rivals slipping up and enhance their chances for automatic promotion.
When did Southampton play Arsenal in the FA Cup?
Southampton played Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-final just before the discussion about their promotion prospects.
