Saints can go into the final games of this season in a strong position compared to 12 months ago when staying in the Premier League looked very unlikely.

This time last year was probably as low a point in our recent history than at any point since the Markus Liebherr takeover, back in 2009 we were in League One but we had hope for the future, a new owner, ane manager and a new start and certainly the following years have been one of constant improvement and excitement.

That probably made last season so hard to take, the Claude Puel season might have seemed unexciting but at least we finished 8th and got to a major cup final.

2017/18 brought us all back to earth though, on 11th April 2018 we were at almost the rock bottom moment of the season, the only bright spot for the season being the upcoming semi final against Chelsea.

We sat 3rd from bottom with 28 points from 32 games 3 off of safety and with a game in hand, I say almost at rock bottom, because perhaps this weekend last year actually saw the low point of the season, we threw away a 2-0 win against Chelsea in the last 20 minutes and saw all the clubs above us pick up points., safety was now Swansea City who were 5 points above us with 5 games to go and from the same number of games.

However a few days later we travelled to Leicester and earned a point which was a turning point as such, it wasnt a great nor pretty performance, but it was gutsy perhaps showing that the team had enough fight in it to see us stay up.

It was hard to see a way out but we had to keep believing that something would change and it did, in the final 5 games we would only lose once, that in itself being the last minute of the final game against Champions Manchester City and even then we knew we were safe as the game at Swansea had finished.

Looking back should remind us though that our position now could be seen to be reminiscent of Swansea's back then, that should throw a word of caution to this season, but it should also be pointed out that at this stage last term the Swans were in freefall and this term we are very much a team with a reasonable form guide over any given period since Ralph Hasenhuttl joined the club.

In our final 6 games we gained just 8 points taking us to 36 whilst Swansea lost all of their final 5 including the defeat to us.

So if Cardiff are to repeat our comeback in the final 6 games then they firstly need to do better than 8 points, as even one win from us would still see them down if they did get that number.

From our perspective we just need to match the number of points we achieved in that final half dozen games a year ago, if we did so then 41 would surely see us safe long before the end of the season.

For us the job is to ensure that 4th from bottom is the lowest we can finish, that means Cardiff getting beat in their next three games, Burnley away on Saturday, Brighton in midweek and then Liverpool at home, three straight defeats and then 4 points for us in that period would be enough.

A year ago we were about to hit rock bottom with little light at the end of the tunnel, now there is plenty to be optimistic about, let's get the job done.

Photo: Action Images

underweststand added 15:22 - Apr 11 Last season's history brings a sigh of relief when you think back, but we're not there yet and we need "another Gabbiadini " to put in an appearance in the vital games remaining. I've never been good at "chicken-counting" and the memory of "the Great Escape" 20 years ago still remains firm in the memory. I just hope " the matter is sorted" before we play Huddersfield.

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HythePeer added 15:45 - Apr 11 One position higher, then! Is Hughes available? 🤣
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