DELL great David Armstrong fears Saints must end their "dismal and abysmal" away form to be sure of winning the battle for Premiership survival.

Saints travel to Middlesbrough this weekend hoping to add to a paltry total of just three points from a possible 42 on the road this season.

They have not won in the league away from St Mary's for 11 months but, after losing just once in their past eight Premiership games, Armstrong, left,believes Sunday is an ideal time to be playing at The Riverside.

"They are looking far more useful - they are playing good, attractive football," said the ex-Middlesbrough, Saints and Eng-land midfielder.

"But they must start consistently producing the results to get out of this.

"The away form is what has let them down. Not picking up points away from home has put a real pressure on them at home. The onus is to get three points every time at home and that can make you nervous and edgy.

"The team have been dismal and abysmal away from home and we need to grind out some results.

"But Middlesbrough have got some injuries and have just played in Europe so it is a great opportunity to get a point and possibly all three.

"Getting some results away would really ease the pressure on the home matches.

"It is about trying to take the belief and confidence that you have at home.

"You have got to look around and see you have got a good calibre of players around you.

"But talk is cheap, they must go out and do it."

Armstrong played 359 times for Middlesbrough between 1971 and 1980 and 222 times for Saints during golden years for the club between 1981 and 1986.

He knows all about the demands of football fans in the north east, but believes Saints have the quality in their squad to stay up.

"Middlesbrough are a good home side - the demands of Teeside are that they perform at home," he said.

"Harry has brought new personnel in and good players. But now is the real test for the likes of Jamie Redknapp, Nigel Quashie and Henri Camara.

"It would be a travesty if they did go down. I think it still looks like three from four and I think it will go right down to the wire.

"It is hard to see West Brom, Norwich or Crystal Palace winning three games on the trot to get out of it so the saving grace is that the points tally is so low.

"They are fortunate that it could be the lowest total to stay up.

"We have got a good squad of players but people have not performed to their true capabilities.

"I think this last time last year if you had asked Harry which squad he'd have preferred out of Saints and Pompey, he'd have said Saints."