SAINTS are back where manager George Burley wants them to be.

The club jumped up to fifth place yesterday in the Championship table after beating Hull 4-2 at the KC Stadium.

Amazingly, fifth-placed Saints are just two points off the second automatic promotion place and just four behind new leaders Birmingham.

The weekend victory made it four successive league wins and five in seven - the other two games during that period being draws.

"Top six is the area where we want to be," said Burley, who has masterminded FIVE previous play-off campaigns (four with Ipswich, one with Derby) in his managerial career.

"We've still got a long way to go, still plenty or work to do and improvement to be seen in the squad.

"But you can see that the spirit and the way they're working is growing.

"The games are no different in this league. There's not much difference between the top and bottom."

Of the win at second from bottom Hull, Burley added: "It was an amazing game.

"First half we were virtually in total control, 2-0 up and looking like it was a little bit of a practice match.

"Then we took our foot off the pedal, lost concentration and it was 2-2.

"That gave them a big lift - they couldn't believe their luck, we'd handed them two goals.

"At half-time we knew we could win the match but we needed to keep our composure and eventually we did get two goals to win it."

Don't miss the best report, reaction and pictures from Saints' game at Hull in tomorrow's Daily Echo.