SAINTS assistant boss Jim Smith was delighted at the outcome of a "defining weekend" after his club's first away league win of the season.

Saints still have the worst away points record in the four English professional divisions after doubling their away tally with victory at Middlesbrough.

Prior to the 3-1 win at The Riverside, Saints had only managed three points - from three draws - and eight goals from 14 Premiership matches on their travels this season.

Since their last away league win at Manchester City on April 17 2004 - during Paul Sturrock's brief reign in charge - Saints had only managed three points out of a possible FORTY EIGHT on the road.

Now, though, they have six away points - putting them level with Norwich and one more than the Premiership's worst ever seasonal total, the five managed by Watford in 1999/2000.

Remarkably, Saints' first away league three-pointer of the campaign had come just 24 hours after fellow strugglers West Brom had broken their away duck - also at the 15th time of asking.

Yesterday's success meant that Saints, five points behind Palace when they kicked off against Spurs a fortnight ago, are now one in front of the Londoners after their weekend loss at Chelsea.

Talking of the win at Middlesbrough, Smith said: "It was massive, massively important to our football club.

"We have got Chelsea coming up and this was a vital three points today.

"We felt it would be a defining weekend.

"On the planning front, we have ourselves in front of our target.

"We knew with Palace at Chelsea yesterday we really felt this was a defining weekend for us.

"The lads now know we can get out of the bottom three. It is a big win.

"We are finally out of the bottom three.

"We knew if we were to have any chance, we had to get an away win to stay up.

"But we were lucky to face Boro after they have played in Europe."

If Saints' long-awaited away success came courtesy of a fine team performance, it was the quality of their finishing, and particularly that of Peter Crouch, which proved the difference.

The tall striker has had his critics, but led the line superbly and took his goals - his 12th and 13th of the season - with some style.

"He was magnificent," said Smith. "His two finishes were brilliant. His first was fantastic and his second, his volley, was brilliant.

"And he can get a few more this season. That is 13 already. People believe in him now and he will go on from that."

Middlesbrough had only previously lost twice in 14 home league matches in 2004/05 - to top two Chelsea and Manchester United.

But only Sporting Lisbon had managed to score three times in Boro's 20 home league and cup matches this season.

Going back to last season, Boro only lost one home match in the final four months of 2003/04 - 2-1 against Aston Villa.

And can you guess who popped up with Villa's winner that day?

Here's a clue: He's very tall.

The bookies are now convinced Saints CAN avoid the drop.

For the first time since the end of November, the club are now odds on to stay up instead of odds on to go down.

Norwich (1-200) and West Brom (1-9) are still odds on to make an immediate return to the Championship with Palace 8-15 and both Pompey and Fulham 8-1.