STEVE WIGLEY is facing the biggest month of his footballing life.

Saints are desperate for points to lift them out of the Premiership's bottom three and with games against West Brom, Portsmouth, Norwich and Crystal Palace - with three of those at home - November is the month in which things MUST start to pick up.

The Daily Echo will be running a 'crunch month' feature every day to keep fans up to date with what is going with Saints' opponents and also with the different ways in which fans are uniting to get behind the team at this vital time.

Today we kick-off with a look at the vital fixtures affecting Saints.

WEST BROM (H)

Already struggling following promotion, the last thing the Baggies needed was their stability being taken away - but with Gary Megson's departure as manager, that's exactly what they have.

PORTSMOUTH (H)

What a derby game it promises to be!

Everything Saints aren't Portsmouth are at the moment - and possibly vice-versa. While Saints have been solid at the back, but found scoring a bit troublesome, Pompey have been the opposite. They can certainly concede but are also an exciting, attacking team.

It could be a case of roles reversed as, despite Saints being at home, it might be Pompey who take the game to them and Wigley's men hitting on the counter.

With Pompey in the top half, it will be a tough game - but it's just the sort that Saints could do with winning to keep the fans with them. The alternative is unthinkable.

NORWICH CITY (A)

It's hard to say that Saints should automatically defeat Norwich - especially seeing the match is at Carrow Road.

Norwich are struggling - not because they have been losing games, but because they haven't been winning them. City will see this as a must-win game if THEY are to survive, so Saints will probably be happy with a point - provided they win their home games.

CRYSTAL PALACE (H)

When teams are promoted there is rarely a lack of heart or commitment about their play. But they are often missing the cutting killer edge to fire them to safety - a goalscorer.

They are normally too expensive to buy and are rarely found lingering in the lower divisions waiting for promotion with their club.

However, in Andy Johnson, Palace have a man who can - and so far has - got the goals that have earned them points. As long as he stays fit and is scoring, they have a chance.