SAINTS 1 – LEEDS 0

And they're set to get even squeakier over the next fortnight.

Of course, the phrase refers to the tenseness of the situation in the league tables at this stage of the season.

Another incredible set of results at the weekend has left seven teams fighting for the three still available play-off places.

By winning 1-0 against Leeds at St Mary's, Saints made sure they are still one of them.

There is no chance of the race not going down to the last game of the season, but again Saints still look like having to win their final two games if they are to make it.

But at least they have given themselves a chance of doing so.

The game against Leeds was not pretty or entertaining, or even particularly enjoyable.

It was hard to watch, certainly it couldn't be advertised as relaxation which is what watching sport normally is.

The last two games, at Norwich and at home to Southend, won't be a lot different.

At least next week Saints will face a team who have little to play for other than pride, with it being their final game of the season in front of their home fans.

That means they will probably be looking to sign off with a win, whereas Leeds were desperate to battle for a point as they bid to avoid an unthinkable demotion from the Championship.

Southend could potentially pose a similar threat, but could be relegated by then.

Saints at least gave heart by showing a bit of character against Leeds.

Dennis Wise's side were not up to much but they battled away and made themselves very hard to beat.

Saints didn't help themselves at times with the way they played and some wayward finishing, although the win was just about deserved.

The first half-an-hour was the tense and tight affair everybody had predicted.

Saints were clearly the better team but could only create a half chance for the recalled Grzegorz Rasiak, who headed over, and a clear-cut opening for Claus Lundekvam, back after injury, who produced the same end product.

The game changed on 33 minutes when Alan Thompson brought down Jhon Viafara and got involved in some afters.

Once tempers had cooled somewhat, referee Tony Bates consulted with his linesman and Thompson was sent off.

There was certainly a feeling as the Saints fans chanted off, off, off' in the build-up to the red card that a few people on the Saints bench might have wished they would shut up.

That's because what resulted was all too predictable.

Leeds put ten men behind the ball and dug in to try and keep a clean sheet. Winning the game was no longer the aim; not losing it was.

Saints have struggled desperately against such sides at St Mary's this season, and duly struggled again.

They almost made things easier for themselves by scoring just before half-time, but Kenwyne Jones's header struck the post.

In the second period, like the first, Saints were never troubled at the back and, despite their injury problems, everybody contributed.

The frustration took a long time to break, though.

Jones headed straight at keeper Casper Ankergren when free close in, Rasiak directed one header not quite wide enough of the Leeds stopper and another off target.

Saints also started firing shots in from 25 yards and playing very central.

They were running out of ideas to break Leeds down.

But, in truth, they hadn't spent enough time trying the best and easiest plan of all - keep moving the ball about and stretch the play out wide.

They had to try and shift Leeds' two banks of four and in the end their goal came from doing exactly that to prove they had learned their lesson.

Danny Guthrie sprayed the ball out to the right wing where Djamel Belmadi brought it under control.

He swung in a cross, there was a scramble in the box and the ball broke to substitute Bradley Wright-Phillips who swivelled and slammed home off the underside of the bar with six minutes remaining - much to the relief of the home fans.

When all is said and done, at squeaky bottom' time it doesn't matter how the wins come.

All that matters is that they come.