Can Saints make it 3 wins in a row and indeed 12 games unbeaten as they continue with the long term aim of making up ground on the three teams that start the weekend ahead of them, its going to be a war of attrition and the next episode is against the Hornets.

The win against Cardiff was very satisfying and saw Southampton put in their best performance of the season, the only disappointment being that we didn’t score more and make in roads on our poor goal difference when compared with the rest of the top 4.

But perhaps the most satisfying part was that this was truly a squad effort, manager Russell Martin saw his squad depleted by injuries, Sulemana & Ross Stewart for perhaps a month or more, but also some short term ones with Will Smallbone being notable by his absence.

This highlighted the depth of the squad that we have at the moment and the fact that although some may criticise the likes of Sokol Mara & Joe Aribou, they are players that at this level can come in and do a job.

Sometimes players aren’t I stand success’s in his first season at the Dell James Beattie scored just 5 goals in the Premier League in 35 appearances, in his second none in 18, yet he went on to be a Southampton legend, back then players were given a little more time and patience by the crowd and some of our squad need that backing now rather than people on their back.

So Russell Martin has a few selection headaches for the trip to Watford, the main two being does he continue with Shea Charles in the centre of midfield and Che Adams up front or does he make changes bringing Will Smallbone back in if fit and up front playing Adam Armstrong in a central role.

Apart from that it should be business as usual as we quietly continue with building up a head of steam.

There are still those not completely convinced yet, still waiting for us to slip up and slip up we will at some stage, if it is Watford that we do, then we just have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and go again.

Over the past two months this Saints side has been the best in the division, if it continues to do that then it will have a good chance of automatic promotion.

Watford are a team like most in the division outside of the top four, they are well drilled and can win games, but can also lose games, there is little to choose between 5th & 21st place, literally anyone in those places could be in a promotion or relegation battle if they won or lost a few games on the trot.

That means there are no easy games in this division, so although we go to Vicarage Road with confidence, indeed hopefully as we did against Cardiff playing without fear, we have to go knowing that we have to graft for the points, that there are few easy games.

This season is fun, we know we can challenge for promotion now, we can enjoy the thrill of the chase and hopefully Watford will be one of those days when we sparkle.

All we can ask is that the team continues playing in the way it can do, the possession game isn’t going to change, but it is evolving and at this level we can now play it well.

Photo: Action Images

Bowlercow added 11:22 - Dec 8 I can't even begin to work this one out Watford would normally have changed their manager after the start they had so have they learnt a lesson that is now paying off. Hopefully we can put a bit of doubt back in their minds When Bree came in and played well RM kept him in after Manning was available Hopefully he will be consistent and keep Charles in I like Che but because of his contract situation he isn't giving of his best Do perhaps give Mara a start

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highfield49 added 11:26 - Dec 8 I suspect most of us supporters are still in that anxious phase whereby we are haunted by too many acts of self destruction. If we want our team to be promoted this season then we simply can't afford to drop three points at Watford. This is a match we have to win to compensate for the run of defeats earlier in the campaign. The war of attrition is impossible to win if we drop points whilst other teams around us continue to avoid defeat. My view is that the club has to sign an experienced strike partner for Adam A in January. Che Adams is never going to provide the goals we need to win matches by significant margins and we might as well sell him, or loan him elsewhere, before his contract expires. Equally it surely must be evident to the owners that the Ross Stewart gamble is getting less and less likely to pay off this season. The harsh reality is that Mara isn't going to provide a lot of goals, Fraser, Edozie, Stu A, Alcaraz, Smallbone and Aribo will score goals sporadically but not in sufficient numbers. Hopefully we'll get a proven scorer signed early on in the transfer window, otherwise we're not going to compete for a top two finish this year.

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Zambucco added 16:10 - Dec 8 Charles over Smallbone all day long. I think the mood in the whole camp has lifted they have all started to believe and want to be part of the matchday squad. All the subs are putting in superb shifts as they fight for a place in a team that is starting to gel and look pretty good. We are on a sticky wicket with the revitalised Wesley Hoedt scoring stunners! Not only did he score but he actually dispossessed a player.

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