Southampton are now entering into the decisive period of the Championship season.
With 13 games of the regular season still to be played, the Saints are currently 4th in the standings.
However, there is still just two points seperating them from the side sitting 2nd in the table, Leeds United.
As a result, Russell Martin‘s are still well in the hunt to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
Now though, it appears there is some concern from certain areas, about the challenges Southampton will face in those 13 games they still have to play before the end of the regular season.
Journalist warns Southampton about remaining fixtures
Among those remaining fixtures, are plenty of tough looking tests that the Saints will have to negotiate.
Southampton still have to play a number of clubs who are currently in the top half of the Championship table.
That includes away games against the current top three. Indeed, they are set for a potentially crucial clash with Leeds United at Elland Road on the very last day of the campaign.
Given their record in those fixtures already this season, it seems there is a belief Southampton have a battle on their hands over the next few months.
Speaking about the club’s run-in on the Total Sains Podcast, Daily Echo journalist Alfie House said: “It’s actually quite a tough run-in when you think about it as a 13. Because they play seven of the top half in that 13, and the record against those seven, isn’t actually amazing.
“Obviously they’ve lost to all of Ipswich, Leicester, and they drew a couple of against Coventry and stuff like that – Watford.
“So I think that of those 15 games they’ve played against the current top half, they’ve won four, draw five and lost six, and they’ve got to play seven of them in their last 13.
“But at the end of the day, you’ve got to beat the best teams. Obviously going to the top three is going to be what ultimately decides the lay of the land at the end of the season, especially that final day.”
Next up for Southampton is a clash with Millwall at St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon.
Saints facing big test of promotion credentials
It will be a big ask for Southampton to come through what they have left to play between now and the end of the season.
There are a number of teams left in their fixture schedule, who still have something left to play for before the end of the campain.
They will therefore not be lying down for the Saints. Indeed, a lot of them have the quality to back that up, and cause problems for Russell Martin’s side.
It is also worth noting that it is at St Mary’s where Southampton have been especially strong this season.
As a result, the fact they still have to go away to each of the top three, only adds further pressure on them in the run-in.
However, these are the sort of tests they were always going to have to deal with at some point, if they were going to win promotion.
With that in mind, this is a big chance for Southampton to show how good a team they are, and Martin to prove how good a manager he is.