For Harry Redknapp, the question is simple.

JUST what can he do to turn things around?

Another game and more potential points have slipped by - leaving Saints with just two points out of a possible 27 on the road this season.

But it's not just another away defeat - the mental scars of taking such a beating, that could easily have been even worse than it was, are not easy to heal.

Redknapp is a past master at lifting teams and clubs that look down and out. And that is certainly the look Saints had about them at Spurs.

What he said after the game was what we long suspected - perhaps whoever the manager is, he just needs better players than he has got at the club at present.

Redknapp will have to be at his motivational peak to pick up Saints for what is a massive match against Charlton at St Mary's on Boxing Day.

'Must win' is a phrase used far too often in football but that game comes close to it simply because a defeat, or even a draw, is unthinkable.

Before the defeat at Spurs, Redknapp targeted 25 more points for survival. Saints now need to get them from 20 games.

That's 1.25 points per game - compared to the 0.72 points they have taken so far from their 18 matches.

It's all hypothetical, of course, but a look at what is actually required shows it's not going to be easy at all.

Look at it in detail and it's eight wins and a draw.

That's a lot of victories to pick up for a team that has only managed two in the league all season so far, indeed only two Premiership wins in their last 22 matches stretching back to April of last season.

So, say Saints 'only' win seven more games - then they need four draws as well.

That's probably more likely an ask, but it means they can only afford to lose nine of their remaining 20.

Simple maths tells you they will need to perform on the road as well as at St Mary's in order to stay up.

And Saints' away form has been simply horrific this season.

When you also bear in mind that Saints still have to face Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Manchester United and Liverpool at home - and remember they have already failed to beat West Brom, Birmingham, Manchester City and Crystal Palace - things start to look very grim indeed.

It is a difficult task for Redknapp.

Arguably the damage had been done before he came in. But he HAS to become the club's saviour.

On Saturday Saints lacked the basics of passing, movement, communication and organisation in defence.

Tottenham played well, but Saints certainly helped make them look good.

The answer to the question at the top of this piece points to knocking on Rupert Lowe's door and asking him to make funds available to bring in new players next month.

They are clearly needed.

Saints may have a big squad - too big, in fact, as Redknapp has already admitted. But the key to it all is the quality and the club's league position tells you a lot.

If Redknapp can move players on then he may have to but, quite simply, while having nicely-balanced books is very commendable, Lowe needs to do what it takes to keep Saints in the Premiership.

Just hoping it will come good hasn't been a great success this season.

Redknapp won't deal in hope but reality. And if he is to have the chance to succeed, he will need some financial backing from his chairman next month.