STAYING UP: A young fan dressed for saturday's game.

DAVE Armstrong is backing Saints to cure a 15-year itch and secure their Premiership survival by beat-ing Everton at The Dell on Sunday (4pm).

Southampton have not won their final fixture since 1984 when Armstrong scored in a 3-1 victory at Notts County which lifted Lawrie McMenemy's side to second place in the old First Division.

Since then they have drawn nine and lost five on the last day of the season but the club's former midfielder believes they will halt that sequence against The Blues to make sure of staying in the top flight.

Victory over Everton - for-mer club of Saints boss Dave Jones - will put them mathematically safe but anything less would almost certainly see them overhauled by Charlton who will surely beat Sheffield Wednesday.

Everton themselves were candidates for the drop barely a month ago until Campbell appeared on the scene after being brought in on loan from his Turkish club.

The former Arsenal and Nottingham Forest striker has transformed the Merseysiders with a burst of scoring that has seen him hit nine goals in seven games including a hat-trick in Saturday's 6-0 roasting of West Ham.

Armstrong said: "Fifteen years is a long time to go with-out winning their final game. It is so long ago I don't even remember the goal I got but I do remember the game because it was a fantastic achievement to finish as runners-up.

"With so much at stake I am sure Saints will do it on Sunday. But I do think they will need the three points because I am sure Charlton will win.

"In the past Southampton have always had a better goal difference but this time it means they cannot afford to draw.

"They have to win and that will make it a very edgy after-noon. The fans will probably feel the tension more than the players but they have got to be patient.

"The first goal will be very important but hopefully Southampton will score early on to settle everyone down. But if it doesn't come - or Heaven forbid they go behind - then they need the crowd to stay with them as I'm sure they will.

"They have a magnificent set of supporters who are close to the pitch. That makes it an intimidating atmosphere and few teams relish coming here.

"Saints have always been able to beat even the best teams here - their home form has been fantastic since Christmas.

"But they will need to keep it going because Everton won't lie down.

"Everton have put some great results together and Kevin Campbell is knocking goals in all over the place. But they are safe while Saints will be fighting for their lives and hopeful-ly that will make the difference."

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