Saints travel up to the London Stadium for a big big game that is as much a must not lose situation as must win.

There can be no doubt that today is crucial in the season for Saints, it is the first big test for Mark Hughes and we will find out how much we are psychologically damaged by the last four months where we have won only one League game.

We all know we are better than the position we are in, but now is when the talking stops and the actions have to start, we have to go to West Ham United and put them to the sword.

Certainly the win at Wigan saw a change in formation and mindset in the team and they came through a difficult game strongly in the end, but with respect to Wigan, the game up there in a stadium with a crowd made up of almost a third being from the South Coast is a totally different proposition to the bear pit that is going to be the London Stadium this afternoon.

But our task is simple, weather the storm and then hit them hard, we certainly have the firepower to score, in Carrillo, Gabbiadini, Long and the returning Charlie Austin we have four options that can get goals, we need to make sure that we don't give ourselves an uphill struggle by conceding soft goals.

Hughes has options in all departments, he has the quality at his disposal, he just needs to pick the right team and for many Saints fans that will be two up front again, however that has to be countered by the fact that we do not want to get swamped in midfield and Hughes could be cautious to start with with the aim of getting control of the game and then putting West Ham to the sword as was the case at Wigan.

As mentioned this is a good squad, the time for coaching is past, the time for managing is here, Mark Hughes has to get the squad's mindset right, get the winning mentality back and let them play with the swagger they used to.

Win this game and things will look a lot rosier, lose it and we are in big trouble.

Photo: Action Images

petesmaterob added 10:08 - Mar 31 not so sure about four options to score goals. Only Charlie would come into that category and he has been injured. Still I am now more positive as is Pete.
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dirk_doone added 19:42 - Mar 31 When you wrote, "we certainly have the firepower to score in Carrillo, Gabbiadini, Long" please tell me you weren't being serious. As Stoke found out, when you are in a relegation fight the last person you want as your manager is Mark Hughes.
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SanMarco added 20:19 - Mar 31 I don't envy Nick his task of writing the verdict on that fiasco. Puel and MP knew 2 up was a risk and it was a massive mistake to do it with Redmond and Tadic as 2 of the 4 midfield. Difficult to see a way of us escaping now - Thanks Les.
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Markl2057 added 20:26 - Mar 31 Gutless!!! What idiot made Bertrand captain??? No leaders out there
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bstokesaint added 20:39 - Mar 31 Feel like the worst ‘supporter’ ever, but I’ve literally had it with this club right now. When we went down previously I was truly gutted. It was the worst feeling ever. This time I feel like it’s been an inevitably pretty much all season and I’ve accepted it for some time, as like the majority of supporters I can see what is blindingly obvious, whilst the board can’t.. As others have said this is one gutless and leaderless team. Moneyball just doesn’t work long term. Players just see us as a stepping stone. There is no incentive to commit anything more to the club. We’ve been left with a bunch of losers who I feel no affiliation with. I’d be more pi55ed off after today normally, but I feel like I passed that point after the Palace game. Roll on the Championship and a bl00dy good clear out. Thanks for shaming the shirt chaps. Now on your bikes.

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AirFlorida added 08:05 - Apr 1 Well that was the shortest honeymoon period ever! Least we know we need to get some fighters in the team for the championship. This lot LOVE rolling over and having thier bellies tickled far too much, I can't begin to imagine the damage the championship would do to their fragility. Poor things.
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LordDZLucan added 09:49 - Apr 1 Good squad? My a**e! It's short of everything you need to be a success in the Premier League (and the Championship for that matter), namely pace, height, strength, intelligence and most importantly desire and commitment. If I had a £ for every 50/50 challenge that Bertrand has shirked this season I'd be a rich man.
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