SAINTS head coach Steve Wigley previewed next weekend's St Mary's showdown with Pompey and confessed: "The fans are entitled to expect."

Wigley's men were just three minutes away from what would have been a dismal home loss to fellow Premiership strugglers West Brom on Saturday.

But Anders Svensson's deflected equaliser against the managerless Baggies still meant Saints have only taken five points out of a possible 30 since Wigley replaced Paul Sturrock in August.

Wigley admits there is a weight of expectation around St Mary's and said: "I told the players last week there would be less pressure at Arsenal than against West Brom because people don't expect.

"The fans expected this weekend and they'll expect next Saturday and they are entitled to."

And after only ten Premiership matches in charge, which have brought five draws and five losses, Wigley is already being asked about his own future - in particular in reference to his comment after six games that if he hadn't done much better six games later he wouldn't expect to still be in charge.

"You could say that in that six-game period I've been minus nine players," said Wigley. "To be fair, I answered the question honestly at the time but I didn't think I'd have nine internationals missing.

"I've not cried about it ...(but) any club in the country would have struggled to carry the injury list we've had."

Saints go to Championship side Watford tomorrow aiming for a place in the quarter-finals of the League Cup but Wigley said: "I'd rather not have the extra game this week.

"My emotions are up and down but I've got no thoughts of leaving."