HARRY Redknapp has told his struggling Saints: Finish above the three promoted sides and you should stay up.

Saints are currently second from bottom in the Premiership with only West Brom below them.

Redknapp believes that Norwich, West Brom and Crystal Palace, all of whom came up last summer, will still be in a fight for survival come May.

He reckons Blackburn and Fulham, also currently in the bottom six, should be good enough to escape the drop.

He said: "There's those three, with Blackburn and Fulham maybe on the edge of it, but other than that it's going to be hard to pull anybody else into it.

"Unless somebody goes into rapid decline, but looking at the teams above I can't see anybody doing that."

He continued: "Blackburn have got a decent squad. They've got a bit of quality there.

"People like Ferguson they paid £7m for, Emerton was £5m, the goalkeeper (Friedal), Amoruso. They have a bit of quality.

"If Mark Hughes gets one or two in they'll be strong.

"Whether Norwich have got the money to bring anybody in is another thing.

"Iain Dowie's done a great job at Crystal Palace and they've got (Andy) Johnson up front with a bit of pace.

"The team has character and will have a go.

"They've got a boy they took from here in Fitz Hall that I wish was still here.

"He's young, he's quick, he'd be ideal. He's what I'm looking for.

"I thought West Brom would be fine. They spent about £12m (last summer) so I thought they'd do well."

Saints look like they will have to turn around their terrible away record - so far just two Premiership draws all season - as in the second half of the campaign they have to face Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton at St Mary's.

Saints have not lost at home in the league since September 18 - Newcastle winning 2-1 that day - but have drawn five of their six games since.

The only exception was a 2-1 win over Redknapp's Pompey in November.

"We've played teams at home where we expected to win and they've all gone and we've got a lot of tough games, but you never know where you get your points in football," said Redknapp.

Saints face Charlton, who have won three on the bounce, at home on Boxing Day and Redknapp admitted: "Charlton's a big game for us. It's a game we need to win."

Redknapp, who guided Pompey out of the bottom three slot they held on Christmas Day last year, feels his team desperately need motivation for their hectic Christmas programme and added: "You've got to be careful.

"You can't keep telling them what they can't do because they'll believe that.

"I've got to lift them and try and find for Sunday a back four and a midfield that can defend well because we can cause anybody problems up front.

"We've got good forwards here who I like. It's other areas we need to improve and I will do that.

"We've just got to get through to January and I'll find some frees and some loans. I've done it all my life."