The win over Sheffield United was not greeted with much enthusiasm on TV on Sunday, it seems like no one in the media is taking us seriously, but the next two games will show Saints supporters indeed the World whether we have what it takes to stay around the top 5 for the rest of the season.

Once again latest win was almost ignored by the media, Match Of The Day salivated over Leicester City's performance and spoke of how they were now only a point behind the leaders, but they like the rest of the media seem oblivious to the fact that Southampton are only 2 points behind the top two with almost a third of the season gone.

This is a recurring theme across all media portals, Leicester are the team that could sneak in on the rails, little Southampton are merely a side show, almost a nice little story given where we were a year ago after that win defeat that even the pundits are getting embarrassed mentioning the name of so frequently do they do so.

Coming in under the radar is the way to do it, we want to get on quietly with our job and let others worry about each other.

I am not getting carried away here I am not going to make any claims of winning the League or even finishing in the top 4, both will be a difficult task, perhaps impossible, but the fact that we are were we are is great testimony to what Ralph Hasenhuttl has done here.

No one can claim that we have got to where we are easily, we have had a good mixture of games, we have played Leaders Tottenham Hotspur, got a draw at Chelsea who would have actually been top now if they had won at Everton and the bulk of our fixtures have been against those who are around us.

But this week is perhaps the acid test as to whether we have what it takes to make a serious top 5 challenge, two games against Big Six teams, the first away at Arsenal ., somewhere we haven't won at in the League for 33 years, this would be an ideal time to break that run.

Then Manchester City at home, they seem a shadow of their former self, but like their neighbours, disastrous seasons are pretty much what 14 teams in the League would give their right arm for, both clubs are within striking distance of us.

So if we want to be able to show we have staying power then we have to come through these two games with our head held high and still in the top 5, the key to that will be a win at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal are in their worst start to a season in decades, they seem to have a squad that needs revamping , we have to put them to the sword and do so now, my only fear is that defeat to Burnley will have provoked a reaction from their team and that a siege mentality will be in place on Wednesday and they will be more fired up than of late.

Manchester City have not been great this season, but it should be noted that as we speak they are still only 4 points behind us with a game in hand, they will feel that they have kept the top two in their sights at a time when they are not firing on all cylinders and that now could be the time to flex their muscles, a home game against West Brom on Tuesday night will set them up nicely and with Liverpool hosting Spurs on Wednesday they could be right behind them come the weekend.

So these two games are a true test for us, can we get something from them that will keep us in the mixer or will the pundits just be saying that we were a fad for a couple of months.

Personally I think we can challenge for a top 5 spot but more likely top 7, my worry is that we are very much a team based on a starting Xi at the moment, we need to rotate the squad more and this is the one failing of Ralph Hasenhuttl at present.

2-0 up against Sheffield United on the hour mark, it was nearly 20 minutes before we made a substitution, Diallo should have been on shortly afterwards for a decent spell on the pitch, keep him sharp for when he is called upon through injury and suspension, likewise Mohammed Salisu, why put him on the bench if you are not going to play him when you are 3-0 up, I can see why NLundulu was brought on for the final minutes, but strikers don't need games as defenders do, it would have been good to see both used yesterday.

So we can keep up with the leading pack, this is a strange season and we can take advantage of the fact that at least three of the Big Six are not firing on all cylinders this season and indeed all are vulnerable, as they have showed over this weekend.

Ralph Hasenhuttl showed that he has changed the mindset of the team, they believe they can do it, yesterday it was refreshing to see that those lucky 2,000 fans got behind the team, St Mary's was not a library, nor was it on the back of individual players, it got behind the side from start to finish, this will be vital.

Photo: Action Images

MRHALL93 added 10:28 - Dec 14 It's interesting that we've not been taken seriously so far. When you look at the past year, this doesn't seem like a flukey run of games, where we're one loss away from losing 5 games in a row. I believe we've won the third-most games in the Premier League this calendar year. Since the restart, only Spurs and Liverpool have taken more points than us. I don't mind the club going the radar, I'm enjoying the football we're playing and the results we're getting.

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Consigliere added 10:46 - Dec 14 In football as in life there are two very easy mistakes to make: under-estimating your opponents and over-estimating your opponents. If other teams and pundits under-estimate Saints then I say "good", that's just the way I'd like it!
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underweststand added 11:09 - Dec 14 The media behaves as if this season's results are some sort of fluke because of Covid situation, and expect the "Big Six" to get back to top form ASAP. It ain't gonna happen. Spurs like Man U are over-dependent on their "star players " who come up the the goods and get them points whereas their overall team performances are a bit "lack-lustre". Several teams are going through a major generational shift, as Saints did "post Koeman", but Ralph has had this group for over a year now, and has got his squad firing on all cylinders and even the bench looks convincing and the level of competition for game time is as high as it's been for a long while. I agree with Nick that 6 -- or even 4 points more after the weekend will raise a few eyebrows, but I am looking forward to seeing how the table looks after the Liverpool game on January 2nd. If our good form continues, and we can get a result against L'pool then we will be regarded in a new light and Ralph has the nucleus of a squad who " know each other " and is good enough to " give it a go" in Europe next season. There is a whole generation of Saints' fans who have never known an away League win v. Arsenal, although I did get to see one (at Highbury), but that was in 1968 (AND we did it that day without an injured Ron Davies). Burnley beat Arsenal last night and Xhaka got a red card and Bellerin got his fifth yellow ..so they won't be available. Is there a better chance. Whoever Ralph chooses - he's sure to have Walcott and Nathan Tella in the squad - who are both "Arsenal rejects "...in one way or another.

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d_ember added 11:49 - Dec 14 I think we are fortunate in that our somewhat limited squad seem to be a fit bunch. However, we have come of the back of a couple of sluggish performances where we just could not get into gear. I notice the "doom sayers" on the fans forum claiming we had been worked out and that our current form would come to an end. I too am concerned with our apparent lack of cover at the back, Stephens is a trier but lacks the consistency and makes mistakes under pressure, which he must feel under if he gets a nod. Salisu is a big unknown. Full backs are not really covered with proven quality at the top six level either. Midfield, centrally, we have Diallo for Romeu, but replacing the legs and flair of JWP will prove more difficult, maybe Armstrong could slot in? Up Front we have an embarrassment of riches, with the wide spots having, Redders, Walcott, Tella, Armstrong and centrally we have Long and Nlundulu - who looks like a second row forward rather than a footballer - it would be interesting to see him more, he is quick and big and seems a willing worker. 90 minutes might be a big ask for him though. I loved the atmosphere at St Marys Sunday, even the recycling phases were applauded when in the past a semi-promising attack on the egde of the 18 yard box would have been howled at as the ball made its way back to the CB's. We need to look to be the best of the rest every year - so when opportunities like this pop up we are good enough to exploit them.

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TimSaint added 12:50 - Dec 14 We are in a false position !! We play virtually all our opposition at a time that they are on a bad run, or have key injuries and/or suspensions. We are lucky and it is always the opposition that have an off day, or switch off and let us score !! :-) Credit where it is due though - we have won ugly this season, battled back well in games and also truly dominated and won. The tendency to sit back when in front is still there at times, but becoming less frequent. Our squad is not the biggest, but seems quite well balanced so far. I would much rather be (and keep our top performers) under the radar and avoid the usual media love in over Jose, Kane, DCL, Vardy, the big 6, Leicester etc !!

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TimSaint added 13:03 - Dec 14 Underweststand I saw us win at Highbury in about 87/88 season - 1-0 Rod Wallace I think. Also saw the 2 x cup wins 4 or 5 years ago. BUT - also seen a few draws and quite a few defeats too !! Also Xhaka will be replaced by Cebellos - who many think is better anyway and Bellerin missing out will probably mean our old mate Cedric gets a game !! (what happened to him ? just a squad or Europa player now i suppose)

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SonicBoom added 13:11 - Dec 14 Who cares. The only way to show the media they are wrong to overlook us, is if we do exactly what they expect, which is to start well but gradually fall back to a more "expected" position, then frankly they will have been right won't they. I'd rather they praised us later for achieving something, than for them to praise us now ad we fade away.
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davepid added 13:55 - Dec 14 Going back to MOTD 2 didn’t Jenas actually say that Vestergard and Hojbjerg had good games in the middle of our defence? Or did I mishear that? Over all I think the media are taking our football more seriously and not just seeing it as a lucky streak of form. And, again I think, this is the first weekend without the TV media mentioning our playing without referencing the Leicester 9 0.

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felly1 added 17:00 - Dec 14 Davepid. I heard that as well.
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A1079 added 17:57 - Dec 14 To be honest, when it comes to our results and progression I almost prefer us to be under the radar. Whenever we get talked up or the fans start believing we can suddenly win the league etc we then hit a brick wall. I would prefer to wait until the end of the season to judge us overall. I appreciate that as a Saints fan I am somewhat cautious and do not come across as positive as many would like, but I have seen teams have good first half of seasons only to then collapse and not be able to buy a win through the second half. I don't think we will be like that, but we do not have that much depth quality and experience and it would not take much to tip the balance one way or another. I think we have the potential to experience the sort of performances and standing that I remember us achieving under McMenemy with an exciting brand of football that will sometimes bring us great rewards but occasionally some heavy defeats. I thought the MOTD 2 coverage of us was minimal. I almost got the impression that they felt obliged to put us on first but could not wait to get our game out of the way. We were almost a nuisance to them. I thought Alex Scott points on Vestergaard were good. Jenas did mistakenly say Hojberg and he was probably thinking of his beloved Spurs but we all make mistakes sometimes. Davepid - apart from MOTD 2 I did not see any of our game on TV but I am afraid that dreaded result was mentioned on 5 live - not in our game but on the coverage of Leicester Vs Brighton. The pundit mentioned that Leicester were last 3-0 up at half time when they won 9-0 against Southampton - so even when we are not involved in a game they somehow manage to mention it somewhere - funny though - I never hear them mention the 7-2 against Liverpool by Villa. I would just love us to give a so called big side a stuffing.

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