HARRY REDKNAPP is more confident than ever Saints will avoid relegation - despite a heartbreaking injury time equaliser against Everton yesterday.
Saints, with all five of Redknapp's transfer window signings on display, were in rampant mood against the fourth-placed Toffees at St Mary's and looked to have the win sewn up.
But, just as there was in the 2-2 draw against Middlesbrough, despair was around the corner when Marcus Bent slammed home deep into injury to level the match at 2-2.
It was tough for Saints to stomach but the manner of the performance has left Redknapp confident of Premiership survival.
He said: "If we carry on playing like that we'll stay up.
"I'm more positive now than I was a week ago and certainly more positive than I was six weeks ago when I first walked in here.
"The five players I've brought in you can see have changed the quality of the team.
"Our last three home games we've beaten Liverpool, beaten Portsmouth and should have beaten Everton.
"We've turned in good performances. It's a proper looking football team at last."
One major plus was the performance of on-loan striker Henri Camara who netted his second goal in as many games and looked a force to be reckoned with.
"The positives if you looked at the team are that it had a shape about it and looked a proper football team," said Redknapp.
"I brought five players in last month and I think you can see they made a difference.
"We were different class.
"We played well against Liverpool here, we played one up but this time the shape of the team meant we were strong all over.
"We were strong in midfield, the little fella was absolute dynamite up front.
"He'd been on loan at Celtic and not playing so we took him on loan on transfer deadline day and he's got pace and just needs people to believe in him.
"When you do that like yesterday he can be a real handful."
The Saints boss also felt hard done by with a couple of decisions from referee Andy D'Urso.
James Beattie, who scored his first Premiership goal for Everton on his return to St Mary's after a £6.5m move last month, looked offside when firing home the opener.
Saints were also denied a penalty after David Weir appeared to clearly handle in the box.
"It was a blatant penalty," said Redknapp.
"And their first goal was offside but with 30 seconds to go you don't expect not to get the three points when you've played as we played in this game."
Redknapp also confirmed that star goalkeeper Antti Niemi will be out for three weeks after undergoing a cartilage operation on his knee.
Paul Smith was handed his first Premiership start yesterday in his place.
He will also face his former club Brentford in the fifth round of the FA Cup if the Bees can beat League One rivals Hartlepool away in their replay.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article