UNFORTUNATELY for Saints, this was a WBA bout not decided on points.

If last night's Hawthorns clash was a boxing match, Saints would have left the Midlands with a first away league win of the season.

But this was a Premiership dogfight, not a World Boxing Association scrap - and Saints were not ruthless enough in front of goal to finish off their hosts.

The good news is that they left the Hawthorns with a point and in doing so ended a run of SEVEN successive Premiership away defeats dating back to the 2-2 draw at Arsenal in late October.

But the bad news is that home games to come against Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United meansthey are almost certain to need at least one win away from home to retain their Premiership status.

Harry Redknapp believes he has a side capable of doing just that and a look at the fixture list would suggest he has a point.

Saints have to wait the best part of a month for their next chance to pick up three points on the road - at Middlesbrough on March 19th.

But after that they travel to Blackburn, Bolton, Portsmouth and Crystal Palace for the games that will decide their Premiership future.

No surprises for guessing which trip Redknapp would most like three points from. Fratton Park on April 24 is the third and final away trip of what will be a critical month for Saints.

And the portents are good, if last season is anything to go by.

After failing to win in six away games, Saints won back-to-back matches in impressive fashion, a 4-1 win at Wolves followed by a 3-1 victory at Manchester City in April 2004.

Since then Saints have failed to win in 16 away Premiership matches but they now have a man who can deliver the knock out blow away from St Mary's in Henri Camara.

Ironically, the principal attacking threat in Redknapp's new look side scored for Wolves in that 4-1 win last year.

And although he failed to score for the first time in a Saints shirt last night, Camara showed why he is the man that can prove the difference between one point and three.

Camara has the build of a light middle weight boxer but it is his feet, not his fists, that do the talking - and his electric pace from a standing start should keep Saints in the Premiership.

Before last night he had four goals in two and a half games for Saints and on another day he would have scored at least one of his three chances - two of which he created on his own.

Redknapp is a big fan of using Crouch's height and Camara's pace in tandem, but the return to fitness of Kevin Phillips has given the Saints boss a major selection conundrum ahead of Arsenal's visit this weekend.

If the Gunners have a weakness, it is defending an aerial threat so Crouch should retain his place against the champions.

But the fact remains that nine-goal Phillips is the club's top scorer this season and is itching to prove a point after watching the entire 90 minutes against West Brom from the bench.

Phillips was the difference when Saints last won away, scoring four goals in those victories at Wolves and Manchester City ten months ago.

And the thought of seeing him operating in the opposition's penalty area, while Camara runs from deep, is a mouthwatering one.

Crouch has been excellent in recent weeks.

But when Phillips and Camara are given the chance to play together in the Premiership, an away KO will surely follow.