Following on from the March international break and large improvements in Southampton’s performances under manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, even if results haven’t always matched the first team squad’s efforts, we head into this weekend’s Premier League clash with Brighton and Hove Albion, looking to increase the gap to the dropzone.
Going into Saturday’s action we sit in 16th place, two points off Cardiff City but three points off our opposition and Crystal Palace, but there are enough points left to ensure safety this year and then hopefully, we can look ahead once again.
Speaking to Sky Sports as our Austrian gaffer met with the media yesterday to preview the game, whilst he’s obviously after three points tomorrow, he also laid down a ten point challenge to the players – stating that he was looking to reach 40 points in the table quickly and as a minimum.
“The most important thing is that you don’t go into the last two games and you have to have wins because that’s a horrible situation. Nobody wants this. If we get 40 points and 36 is enough, it’s perfect. But we are targeting the 40 points and for this we need three more wins and one draw. The sooner you get these points the better.”
With Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers up next after Chris Hughton’s side, Hasenhuttl is right to not want it to go down to the final fixtures of the campaign as that would really put the pressure on. There’s a lot of sense in having Brighton as a six pointer and taking pressure of the next two.
