DEFIANT: Mark Hughes is adamant he won't let Saints be relegated.

MARK HUGHES enters unchartered territory on Sunday when he experiences the gutwrenching tension of a sudden-death survival struggle for the first time.

During a glittering career the Welsh international has won two Premiership titles, a record four FA Cups, two league cups, two Cup Winners Cups and countless other honours.

Most have those have been big pressure occasions but he knows that none of his medal quests can fully prepare him for the nerve-tingling finale awaiting him on Sunday.

Saints know victory in their final game at home to Everton will make them mathematically safe but anything less will almost certainly doom them to the drop.

Hughes said: "I have been involved in plenty of lastday deciders but never one at this end of the table so this is definitely something new for me.

"I can't tell you if the pressure will be the same but I imagine the emotions will be similar. Hopefully there will be the same adrenalin rush at the end.

"There's usually a mixture of elation and relief after sudden-death deciders. In cup finals it's mainly joy but probably in a relegation battle there's more relief.

"At times this season the confidence has not been very high which affects the way the team plays. "When you are going for champi-onships the team is playing well and you don't have those extra worries. But if we go into this game with the same attitude we have shown in the last few weeks and keep our home form going then I am sure we will be OK."

While this season may have been very different to his time at Manchester United, Barcelona and Chelsea, Hughes has found the support down here equally passionate.

He said: "I was well aware that the club had great supporters even before I came here but the backing at Wimbledon was something else. They are very important to us and for them to turn out in such numbers was incredible. It would be nice to do it for them.

"I'm well aware what staying up means to the club and I'll be doing my utmost to make sure it happens. Personally, relegation is not something I want on my CV when I look back on my career."

Hughes has managed just one goal this season but many fans feel he is destined to get the decisive strike tomorrow. He added: "It has not been a great season for me personally but if we stay up then it will be a great finale. It is so important to the area and to the club with the new stadium at stake.

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