AND then there were none. When Harry Redknapp took over the St Mary's hot seat, some eight teams were sandwiched between Saints and Pompey in the Premiership table.

Now, though, Pompey's buffer of Charlton, Manchester City, Newcastle, Tottenham, Fulham, Birmingham, Crystal Palace and Blackburn has been totally wiped out as the battle for south-coast supremacy threatens also to become a fight for top-flight survival.

Saints are breathing directly down the necks of Pompey, with the so-called 'Harry factor' never more stark.

His switch to St Mary's has coincided with a steady upturn in the form of Saints, while there has been a dramatic decline in recent results for Pompey.

The difference has been particularly noticeable since the turn of the year and the opening of the January transfer window with Pompey having picked up just five points to Saints' 13 in 2005.

Saints can also now boast a superior goal difference to Velimir Zajec's Pompey.

And midfielder Graeme Le Saux admits that the trip to Fratton Park on April 24 is shaping up as a hugely significant match.

"The pressure is on, they (Pompey) have lost eight of the last ten," said Le Saux.

"We have to play them in three weeks. That game is becoming more a key fixture."

Saints were predictably beaten by Chelsea on Saturday and although there were weekend defeats for Pompey and Crystal Palace, victories for Fulham and West Brom have left things increasingly close at the bottom.

Redknapp admitted he thought West Brom might pull off a surprise win against Everton and he is predicting a nail-biting finale to the season.

"I had a feeling there might be an upset. It's still going to be tight and it will go right to the end of the season," said the Saints boss.

Dell legend David Armstrong has been following Saints as an expert summariser for BBC Radio Five Live and praised the impact in recent months of Redknapp.

"Judging by results so far it has been positive for Southampton and negative for Portsmouth," he said.

"He has brought new players in which has brought some impetus and he gets players to play for him.

"But hopefully both Southampton and Portsmouth can now stay up. It is good for the area to have south-coast derbies.

"I wouldn't like to see either team go down and have to wait another 16 years for a derby."