IT'S going down to the wire. The most closely-fought relegation scrap in years last night took a series of dramatic twists and turns - and finished with just TWO points now separating the bottom FOUR teams.

Saints slipped back into the bottom three after West Brom picked up a useful point at Tottenham, but the shock of the night came as Norwich defeated Newcastle with a 94th-minute winner from striker Dean Ashton.

St Mary's boss Harry Redknapp is targeting three wins for safety from Saints' remaining four matches against Portsmouth, Norwich, Crystal Palace and Man United.

And all eyes are now on Sunday's eagerly-awaited noon derby at Fratton Park, with Pompey still not safe after losing 2-1 to Liverpool last night.

Redknapp, whose Saints fought back to draw 1-1 with Bolton at The Reebok on Tuesday night, said: "That point is very valuable. We've got to go to Portsmouth on Sunday and win - that's the key now. We've got to go there and beat them.

"There's four games left. I said all along ten points will do it and we've got to win three games.

"It's going to be hard but we've got to keep believing."

Looking ahead to his first return to Fratton Park as Saints manager since leaving Pompey last November, Redknapp added: "It will be a strange day I suppose. I can't say I'm looking forward to it but I'll just get on with it.

"I'm not bothered, people can do what they want - I know what I did for Portsmouth Football Club.

"We've got to make sure we don't get swept away with it all. We have to concentrate on the game and play well."

Pompey are only seven points off the drop-zone but it looks likely it will be three teams from West Brom, Saints, Crystal Palace and Norwich to go down.

West Brom and Norwich had looked doomed only a few weeks ago but both have put together impressive runs with Palace and Saints faltering.

Palace were beaten 1-0 at Blackburn last night, although Kevin Phillips' equalising strike against Bolton has regained some momentum for Saints after three defeats on the bounce.

Saints had Robbie Keane to thanks last night for keeping them within touching distance of West Brom after the Irishman's goal denied Bryan Robson's men another win after Zoltan Gera had given them the lead at White Hart Lane.

But the Baggies still have one point and one match more than their rivals. Their game in hand is the home fixture against FA Cup semi-finalists Blackburn next Tuesday.