MATTHEW Le Tissier has sent a message of sympathy to his old pals at Blackburn - even though he is delighted they have been relegated. Big-spending Rovers are now doomed to the drop after being held 0-0 at Ewood Park last night by Manchester United.

That now leaves a straight fight between Southampton and Charlton to avoid the final place in the bottom three with Dave Jones' men knowing that victory at home to Everton on Sunday will keep them up.

And Le Tissier has no doubt that he will not be renewing acquaintance in Division 1 with former Saints stars Tim Flowers, Jeff Kenna and Kevin Davies who have all gone down with Blackburn.

Le Tissier has enjoyed some meaty personal duels with Flowers since the keeper left The Dell and he is also good friends with Kenna and Davies.

He said: "I do feel for them on a personal level because I get on well with them. But if it has to be them or us then I'm afraid it had to be them. That's the nature of this game.

"I feel for them most because none of them have really been able to do anything about it. They have not really been involved for the last two or three months.

"Jeff has been injured while Tim and Kevin have not been able to get back in the team so it must have been very frustrating for them.

"Kevin wasn't here long but did very well while Tim and Jeff came through the ranks with me and I feel sad for them. They must have thought they had left relegation battles behind but it's funny how football works out. Now we have to make sure we don't go down with them."

Saints have a few minor injury worries ahead of Sunday's sudden-death decider. Moroccan mid-fielder Hassan Kachloul pulled out of training yesterday with a back injury but expects to be fit.

Skipper Jason Dodd has had an injection in his troublesome knee injury while David Hughes also has a knee problem.

And Chris Marsden has been told by a specialist he is likely to need a groin operation after Sunday but he vowed: "It's only one game - I'll play through it."

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