STAYING UP: Saints big defender Ken Monkou is confident.

AS ONE of the most laid-back members of the Saints dressing room Ken Monkou is totally relaxed about Sunday's sud-den-death decider at home to Everton.

The unflappable centre-back is focused and up for the challenge but won't be fazed by the prospect of the club's fourth final-day survival battle in six years.

Monkou was there for the first of those at West Ham in 1994 when Southampton stayed up with a chaot-ic 3-3 draw.

The teams had to be taken off the field after the home fans prematurely invaded the pitch two minutes from time with Saints leading 3-2.

When they returned the crowd were standing on the touchline, literally inches from the play and frequently encroaching into the goalmouth.

Amid the mayhem Monkou was pushed onto the ball by Lee Chapman for an own goal. But by then other results meant his side were already safe.

Having coped with all that, the Dutch defender believes he is fully equipped to keep his head in the pressure-cooker atmosphere on Sunday. He said: "The first survival battle was hard because I was not used to it and it was awful coming off the field and going back on with the crowd right on the touchline.

"But that experience will help on Sunday when we have to make sure we stay calm. The crowd will be tense and on edge and we cannot let that affect us.

"We have to approach it as we would any other game and make sure we keep our concentration and discipline."

Conceivably this could be the popu-lar defender's last game in the Saints shirt which means so much to him.

He will be out of contract and eligible for a free transfer under the Bosman ruling although he still hopes to be staying on at The Dell.

He said: "Everyone knows how much this club means to me. I am red and white through and through and it would mean a lot to me on a personal level to help them stay up.

"I will be doing all I can to keep them in the Premiership and then we will see what the future holds."

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