Seven games to go and all is still to play for in Saints return to the Premier League. Mathematically we can still qualify for the Champions League but to be honest mid-table mediocrity will do very nicely thank you.
As I write this we sit 12th in the League, which is our highest position all season and bodes well for the remaining games. Our last two games have given us home wins over Liverpool and Chelsea (reigning European Champions!!) and we have been recognised for playing "good" football in both games.
Next up comes an away game against Reading, who were promoted with us last season. They currently sit bottom of the table 11 points behind us, so they need to win fairly desperately to have any chance of staying up. They recently sacked their manager and appointed ex Saints manager, Nigel Adkins, in his place, so this game now has lots of extra significance. It's rare as a sacked manager, that you get to shake the hand of the guy who replaced you, but that will happen on Saturday. It's also an oddity for Saints fans as they never got the chance to say goodbye to Adkins, so the pre-game chanting of his name may well be from all round the stadium. Finally it's a chance for Mauricio Pochettino, to show that he was the right choice to take over from Adkins, by his Saints beating Reading and beating them well. Last season's game at Reading ended 1-1, I think that this game will end the same.
After Saturday these are our remaining fixtures and my predictions:-
West Ham (home) - 3-1
Swansea (away) - 0-0
West Brom (home) - 2-1
Spurs (away) - 3-1 (though I really really want us to win this game, given the number of people that I know who follow Spurs)
Sunderland (away) 0-1
Stoke (home) 3-0
If I'm correct with my scores above that will see us finish with 48 points and end somewhere in mid table.
Of course we are only 4 points above the relegation zone, so a couple of losses and we could yet end up playing Stoke needing to win to stay in the Premier League, but my instinct is that we'll be safe by the time we go to Sunderland.
Come on you Reds!
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My predictions
Reading 0 - Saints 2
Saints 1 - West Ham 1
Saints 2 West Brom 1
Spurs 2 Saints 1
Sunderland 1 Saints 1
Saints 3 Stoke 2
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