Saints At Leicester City The Preview Friday, 10th Jan 2020 13:01 Most Saints fans have tucked away that fateful night in October away in some locked part of their mind, never to be recalled, so the game at Leicester is about one thing and one thing only, the future not the past. That freak result back in October is now erased from Saints fans memories, we look only to the future not the past and in that respect the game at Leicester means just one thing and that is trying to get points that will push us a step nearer securing Premier League safety. Whether Leicester fans will let the travelling Saints supporters forget it is a different matter, those who followed Saints to Filbert Street back in our time in the old First Division and the Premier League will recall what a nasty bunch they were back then and the shower of coins that used to fly into the away section back then. Indeed as recently as December when Liverpool visited, the home fans taunted the away section by holding up their mobile phones with a logo of the Sun newspaper. So we have to forget the past and look to the future on Saturday, all that matters is the now, it will not be an easy game, Leicester are high in the table and hopeful of a Champions League spot come May, but we may be playing a side in the top four, but that does not mean we play a top four side. This is one of those freak years where four of the Big Six are in transition, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs & Man Utd are all in disarray, yes they are good enough to still win a game or two and turn it on in the odd big game, but too many of them are full of disinterested superstars and Leicester as they did in 2016 are taking full advantage. But they are far from unbeatable, they are just the best of a bad bunch and we have to try and catch them at a time when they are looking at having to fight on several fronts as well as the League and we play them at a time when they are having a blip. In their last 8 matches in all competitions they have won just three times, at Newcastle & West Ham both struggling and at home to Wigan in the FA Cup. So they are into a hard period where they have to play cup games as well as the League and it is taking it's toll with injuries etc. It will not be easy but we can achieve a result if we dig in and have a bit of luck, recent results for us have given us confidence and some breathing space, we have to try and make sure that we don't let the sides behind us catch up on us. As I have said we now need a point a game average to stay up and that is less than we have had so far even given our disastrous spell in the Autumn. So defeat at the King Power is not the end of the World it is just a set back not a catastrophe and we have to try and get something out of this game even if it is just our pride after October, but a point would be good, three points better, we have dragged ourself into a position that 4 more wins would be enough to see us safe when a 2 or 3 draws are added, that is highly achievable. The quicker that we get those wins the better, this is perhaps the third hardest game we now face after Liverpool away and Manchester City at home, anything we can get is a bonus even if it is just only our pride. I Don't expect much different from the side that faces Spurs on New Years Day, the same goalkeeper and defence, in midfield I can perhaps see Armstrong in for Djenepo and then it is a question of whether Ralph goes for two up top perhaps pairing the guile and goalscoring of Ings with the work rate of Shane Long or whether he opts to go with just one in the frontline and pack the midfield. The first task is to restore our pride, get a grip on the game and make sure we compete, the second task is to get something from the game. Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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