Saints were one again handed another chance after West Ham failed to beat Watford only one result will do against Barnsley at St Mary's on Saturday

Saints draw with Ipswich on Tuesday almost felt like a defeat especially with Reading winning yet again, so having slipped up once at home this week there is absolutely no room to manoevre by dropping more points.

The blunt truth is that fortune will now favorite the brave, Saints now have to hold their nerve and show the sort of clinical approach to winning games that Reading have been doing in recent weeks, keep winning and leave our rivals with no margin for error has got to be our approach.

The key will be Nigel Adkins team selections, at times this season he has almost seemed to be spoiled for choice and unable to decide from a big squad, it's like he feels obliged to use the squad because he has it, akook back at our results though, show that our good runs are built on consistency, play the best side and don't tinker, know what the strengths of certain players and know their weakness,so as well

So let's get the tactics right, get the three points and take another step forward.

Photo: Action Images

BlackRod added 18:34 - Mar 9 Yes, I thought it seemed like he wanted to use different players just because they are there. There's a piece on the club website today saying that Connolly is ready for action so it's anybody's guess who will partner Rickie on Saturday. We were at our best when it was, as far as possible, the same eleven turning out every week. Then Nigel was criticised for not being adventurous enough! Anyway, the statistics are clear - we have won 69% of the games where Chaplow started. Whatever else happens he should be in the lineup.

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Whatsforpud added 21:22 - Mar 9 It's fine to have a big squad, but maybe Adkins feels obliged to keep everyone happy. Those managers with a small squad are more likely to know their best team, and have 3 or 4 others in reserve for injuries and suspensions. I suspect Chaplow will be in for Guly, and Cork for Hammond. At the moment, I'm not sure where Sharp fits in to the great scheme of things.
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Fordy added 09:25 - Mar 10 To be fair he hasn't really rotated the squad that much. Recently, Davis, Fonte, Hooiveld, Richardson, Fox, Morgan, Cork, Lallana and Lambert have all been regulars when fit. Cork put in a poor performance and was replaced. There are only really two places that he has rotated.
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nobby added 10:12 - Mar 10 Agree with Fordy. For the first dozen games NA never changed the team at all and it was only through suspension and injury that forced him to do so. Billy Blunt has been a bit disappointing as I expected him to hit the ground running but he's had difficulty in fitting into the team having to feed off Lambert instead of being the main striker for Donny. We're on a good run though and NA hasn't tinkered unnecessarily but I think it's evident that the season has taken its toll on some of the players.

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tiptop added 10:38 - Mar 10 Just keep the ball better today please and don't go too narrow if we're not. Agree with fordy and Nobby and whatsforpud to a point! You can pretty much name his fav 11 now. NA does rotate the squad and it could be argued he's trying to please everyone sometimes. But NA's belief and confidence that the squad is full of quality. He needs the players buy into his ethic. Its squad management that might seem wrong sometimes. After Tues Guly may drop out of the squad and SdR could have bought himself another place on the bench..ahead of Puncheon?? My only concern with Lee (not forgetting he is quality and gives us the ability to change out play) at this point is his goal scoring potential. Thats where Sharp/Connolly will start knocking the door.

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thingummy added 12:27 - Mar 10 cant play 2 games a week for rest of season with same team. chappers just back from injury and mustnt be over-stretched. Lala needs looking after and clearly has a problem with his groin. question is who partners ricky, whether morgan needs help in the middle against the more physical sides... etc I dont necessarily agree with all his decisions but in Nigel I trust
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