JAMIE REDKNAPP has played on some of the biggest stages in the world, but admitted the elation he felt at ten to five on Saturday afternoon was comparable with anything he has experienced.

But the former England midfielder knows there is still a long way to go this season and predicted that Saints' relegation scrap will go right down to the wire.

"It was huge that we held on," said Redknapp. "Teams coming back and equalising in the last few minutes plays on your mind.

"The crowd got nervous and we certainly got nervous.

"I tried to set them up once by not clearing the ball and obviously my dad was not too happy with me!

"The past six or seven games here we seem to have been holding on so it was a big win."

St Mary's erupted with joy on the final whistle and Redknapp stressed the players' determination to maintain Saints' Premiership status.

He said: "It was like a Cup final atmosphere. I can't say how much I've enjoyed it coming to Southampton, I've absolutely loved every minute.

"The crowd has been great, the set-up has been great.

"It's been special for me and I'm just desperate for us to stay in that Premiership, because this club should stay up - it's a big club.

"It's going to be tough, we can't start saying anything because we've won one game, but it was a big win.

"Palace have got a good result, Iain Dowie has got them playing, they have got a spirit and so have we.

"It's going to go right to the end, I'm sure of it.

"We didn't really get among Tottenham as we would have liked in the first 20 minutes but after that we had a couple of good chances.

"Once we scored we had another fantastic opportunity and then it was one of those days when we were holding on."

Redknapp produced another excellent performance, passing the ball superbly as he again played the anchor-role in front of the Saints back-four.

He is pleased with his partnership alongside Nigel Quashie in the centre of midfield, but also pointed to the form of players throughout the team.

"I'm getting a partnership with Nigel Quashie," he said.

"We are mates and we want to win together. If I don't go for a second ball challenge he's on to me and vice versa - that's how it has to be.

"But Graeme Le Saux and Olivier Bernard behind him are getting a partnership going and so did Paul Telfer and Rory Delap down the right. You need those partnerships.

"Danny Higginbotham came in and was great for us as well.

"You need to get those partnerships going and it was such a great feeling in that dressing-room when we won.

"We feel confident, we've got good players and this was a big result.

"It pulls Palace back two points, Portsmouth are looking over their shoulders now I'm sure and it is the same for Blackburn. It's wide open again."