Southampton

This year's battle for automatic promotion to the Premier League looks set to go right to the wire, with last season's relegated sides Leicester, Leeds and Southampton trying to bounce straight back. However, Kieran McKenna's Ipswich are currently top of a four-way fight.

BBC Sport has examined the run-in and Opta's predictions for the final league table.

At the turn of the year Enzo Maresca's Leicester looked certain to bounce straight back up to the Premier League, topping the Championship table with a 13-point gap over third-place Southampton.

But after the Saints' win over Preston on Tuesday, four teams are involved with just a handful of games to go.

According to Opta, the Foxes have a 62% chance of winning the title and 84% of sealing promotion. Ipswich have a 62% chance of securing back-to-back promotions, according to Opta.

Southampton are predicted to get 89 points, with two of their final four games away at Leicester and Leeds.

Read the full lowdown on the Championship promotion battle

Image source, Getty Images

Former Southampton striker Jo Tessem believes Russell Martin's side must win against Cardiff on Saturday to be back in the race for automatic promotion.

Leicester, Leeds and Ipswich all stumbling recently, coupled with Tuesday's 3-0 win over Preston, have moved Saints back within four points of the top two with four games to play.

"We're fourth - the table never lies," Tessem told BBC Radio Solent's Goin' Home With Adam and Jo podcast. "But of course we are [back in the automatic promotion hunt]. We've been given a lifeline.

"If we win against Cardiff ,we have the lifeline but we have to win - that's the truth of it. We're not in it until that game is won and that's on Saturday.

"Then the important games start after that but that game has to be won before we go to Leicester. Without that, I don't think we have a chance."

Southampton coasted past Preston with three first half goals at St Mary's on Tuesday evening and Tessem believes the visitors having nothing to play for gave his former team an easy night's work.

"We were good because Preston allowed us to be good," he added, "They gave us too much space and they weren't aggressive. They let us play. You could see after the first two minutes they were absolutely not up for it.

"It should have probably been more but Saints had control and Preston had no sniff of goal. I don't mind it being boring when it's controlled boring. It was a well controlled, good game throughout."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

The latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's Goin' Home With Adam and Jo is now live.

After Southampton's romp against Preston made it three home wins in a row, the boys ask if Saints are not only in the hunt for automatic promotion but now back in the title race.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Harry Tizard
Fan writer

Southampton reignited their hopes of automatic promotion with wins over Coventry City and Watford, with runaway rivals Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Leeds United all dropping points in their previous two outings to allow the Saints back into the hunt.

Russell Martin's men looked set to waste their opportunity to further close the gap on Saturday, after relinquishing a two-goal lead to the Hornets, before Flynn Downes scored a 99th-minute winner to lift the roof off St Mary's Stadium.

Many fans had given up on a place in the top two weeks ago and, while Southampton are still outsiders, the players clearly believe the opportunity is still alive.

So whether you are a fan who is constantly frustrated with Martin's possession tactics or you are someone who has faith in the manager, it is now time to get behind the team, more than ever this season, in what could be an enthralling conclusion to the campaign.

Automatic promotion is still improbable, but Southampton must win one game at a time and see where it takes them.

Leicester, Leeds and Ipswich have shown that they are getting nervous and will almost certainly drop points again, so it is time to take advantage of it.

Harry Tizard can be found at The Saints Score, external

Image source, Getty Images

Russell Martin says his players need the fans' support "now more than ever," as they continue to push for promotion to the Premier League.

It is a four-horse race for the two automatic spots that are currently occupied by leaders Ipswich Town on 89 points and Leicester City with 88.

Southampton are seven points behind the Foxes with a game in hand and need six points to catch third place Leeds United, who have played two more games at this stage.

Flynn Downes' goal in the final seconds gave Saints a dramatic victory 3-2 over Watford on Saturday as Leeds suffered their first home defeat of the season.

"This team never gives up," said Martin. "They are fighting hard for each other and we are going to need that.

"They have to feel the game but also manage that and make sure we are playing the game the way we want too. That is not easy but it is the challenge that we have. The style of the team is not going to change.

"The fans have been incredible. I love the connection between the fans and the team.

"Now more than ever those players need the supporters and that is through the good and tough moments because it is going to be huge."

Former Southampton striker Jo Tessem was feeling "great" after midfielder Flynn Downes scored an injury-time winner at St Mary's Stadium to keep Russell Martin's side in with a chance of automatic promotion.

"This is why we love football. This is absolutely fantastic," said Tessem on the Goin' Home With Adam And Jo podcast.

"The people who leave early need to stop doing this! They missed the most important minute of that football game. You have got that togetherness in the stadium. People, you cannot go home! It is absolutely the dumbest thing you can do in football."

The Hornets fought back from two goals down leaving the Saints searching for a winner in the late stages of the game, and Tessem has been explaining how hard it is to "find the fifth gear again" after letting a two-goal lead slip: "It is almost impossible.

"You could see Watford were trying to defend. They were trying to stop us from attacking and we were flowing [to begin with]. We got the easy first goal after 57 seconds or something, and we were cruising and got the second one. Everything was perfect.

"Then, after 30 minutes, it all went crazy. It was like we thought the game was over and we didn't need to do anything more. They started thinking that it was easy, we can pass the ball around, and do the possession football.

"But, when you start thinking like that, you lower your expectations and that is what happened. Then, when you have done that, you can't get back to it."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Image source, PA Media

Southampton boss Russell Martin was complimentary of Watford interim manager Tom Cleverley in his news conference before Saints host the Hornets in the Championship on Saturday.

"He's doing a brilliant job," said Martin of former Manchester United and England midfielder Cleverley, who has led Watford to a win and four draws in his five matches in charge.

"I've been in his position, going from a player to a manager. I really enjoyed their performance on Wednesday [against Ipswich]. There was a lot to like about the performance and you can see they were playing for Tom.

"They looked like they were enjoying themselves. I think he's doing a great job and I hope he's enjoying it. The [Watford] players look up for the fight."

Looking ahead to playing Watford, Martin said: "We're at home, we just had a great performance and a really good result. It's about us and making the game into the one that we want it to be, regardless of who we are playing.

"We have a really brilliant group of players and everyone is going to contribute, I'm convinced of that. That's been the case all season."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Southampton forward Jo Tessem believes "taking the pressure off and thinking about the play-offs" may be the best idea for Southampton as the Championship's top three continue to drop points.

Speaking on BBC Radio Solent's Goin' Home With Adam And Jo podcast after Tuesday's 2-1 win over Coventry City, Tessem said Saints just need to continue "to concentrate on the next game", adding that he feels the supporters are now fully behind the team in preparation for the play-offs.

"[The crowd] is going to be massively important. Get the crowd behind you even when we don't play good football.

"We had to fight and dig in and the crowd was behind that. They didn't moan or get on their nerves. That's the kind of attitude we need. That will help the players to go forward and feel positive about where we are."

Tessem also praised midfielder Joe Aribo, who "has finally found his position" and is "growing".

"You can see his confidence and body language - it is always positive," added Tessem.

"When you enjoy your football that happens automatically. Some players are meant to play in certain positions - and I think that is his position he's meant to play.

"If you play in a position you're not familiar with, you start overthinking it. When you play in a position where everything is automatic, you also grow with the risks and what risks to take - the positive risks.

"He's doing that fantastically at the moment."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Harry Tizard
Fan writer

Southampton's tough run of form continued on the weekend after a 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers.

The Saints are now three games without a win, but unlike the matches against Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town, there was little to be happy about apart from a first clean sheet in six outings.

Now 12 points behind second-placed Ipswich with two games in hand, the small portion of fans who want Russell Martin to get sacked is getting larger and louder.

However, the former Swansea City boss must get more time after being given the biggest rebuilding project Southampton have had in years.

After seeing over £150m worth of talent exit in the summer while only bringing in Shea Charles and Ross Stewart for fees, Martin has completely changed the playing style, basing it in the image of the club and the new hierarchy.

It is tough to hear for Saints fans, but Leicester City and Leeds United were always going to be favourites for the title because of the size of the clubs and their budgets. The Tractor Boys have proved to be a surprise package and shocked the league, just as Southampton did in the 2011-12 season.

Finishing in the play-offs is a success.

Harry Tizard can be found at The Saints Score, external

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton boss Russell Martin feels "there isn't a best team" that he can select at the moment because of his side's lack of wins.

Since the side's 25-match unbeaten run came to an end against Bristol City in February, the Saints have struggled for consistent form and an automatic promotion spot in the Championship now looks unlikely.

They came away from Blackburn Rovers with a goalless draw on Saturday and it was another game in which Martin had made changes to the starting XI.

Asked about this in his news conference before Saints host Coventry City on Tuesday, Martin said: "When we were 25 [games] unbeaten we made a change or two to the team and it didn't make much difference because we were in the flow.

"At the minute, we're not quite in the flow so every change or tweak you make is questioned. But when you're winning it is not questioned because the game is so outcome based.

"It is up to us to look beyond that and try to prepare and get real good momentum for the play-offs.

"We try to win seven games and see where that takes us, but now everyone is playing to make sure they are part of the best team capable of getting us to the Premier League. It really is that simple. We can't pretend anything else.

"People get the opportunity to show what they can do, but you have to earn the opportunity. At the moment, there isn't a best team because we aren't winning enough games.

"The lads need to be desperate to be in team, to get to the Premier League, to stay in the team, to push the players when not in the team.

"The ones who are desperate will be the ones who are playing."

Image source, Getty Images

Russell Martin says his team "never listen to what is being said externally", as the Saints continue their push for Championship promotion this season.

Martin's side are still holding on to the possibility of automatic promotion to the top-flight but recent results against Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town have seen them slip 12 points behind second-place Leeds United.

"In the same way we always do, we never listen to what is being said externally. In the same way, when we were 25 games unbeaten, we didn't listen to all of that," said Martin.

"So I was really bullish and protective over the players on Monday [after the Ipswich Town defeat], because I thought the performance was so good."

Southampton still have eight games to play before the end of the season, with a possible 24 points up for grabs, and their next challenge comes against Blackburn on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Martin confirmed Stuart Armstrong will be unavailable for selection after picking up a concussion against Ipswich Town. He said the midfielder "took a really big whack to the head" from Massimo Luongo and he hopes Armstrong will be back for Tuesday's game against Coventry City.

Saints will also be without defender James Bree, who received a straight red card in the 85th minute of their 3-2 defeat to Ipswich Town.

Martin had plenty of praise for Blackburn and their manager John Eustace, stating: "I really like them, in the same way I did when they came to our place. They play good football. They are very young, athletic and with good energy.

"I think they are well capable of results. On Monday, [against Sunderland] I thought they were outstanding. But they have had a few brilliant performances that haven't quite translated into results.

"So I'm sure John has been feeling very frustrated because they have been doing really good things. He's a really good guy. I think they had a really good manager in Jon Dahl Tomasson, who has gone, and they have replaced him with another good manager.

"It is a club with a plan, and they are just going through a bit of pain early on in terms of what they are trying to build. But I think they are doing some really good stuff. They will be desperate to get the manager's first home win."