While edging ahead of two of the top three was always going to prove difficult, Russell Martin will be concerned with the drop off in form of his Southampton players.
Letting slip a one-goal lead to lose at Cardiff City was followed by a 5-0 hammering at the hands of promotion rivals Leicester City on Tuesday night.
As a result, the Saints are effectively consigned to a playoff spot – fourth position to be exact – with West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City or Hull City likely to be their opponents in the semi-finals.
For now, Martin will not be looking that far ahead. This is a team that has lost six of their last 13 matches in the Championship, the majority coming away from St Mary’s.
On a positive note, Southampton have won 15 of their 22 league fixtures at their South-coast home, including four of their last five.
Meanwhile, opponents Stoke have been able to move themselves to the brink of avoiding relegation to League One having lost just one of their most recent six fixtures.
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Although that included a four-game streak without success, posting three draws kept things ticking over ahead of a potentially-pivotal game with Plymouth Argyle last weekend.
Steven Schumacher was able to get one over his former club as the Potters recorded a 3-0 victory at the bet365 Stadium, establishing a four-point gap with two matches remaining.
Should Birmingham City fail to defeat Huddersfield Town, a draw will be enough for Stoke, but Schumacher will want his Stoke players to build on the seven-point haul that has come from their last four away encounters.
