SAINTS manager Ruben Selles insisted teams must “reduce outside noise” if they are to survive in the Premier League this year and predicted: “The margin is going to be one point”.

The St Mary’s side welcome Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow (3PM) with just 11 matches remaining of this year’s campaign, coming off the back of a midweek defeat to Brentford.

Saints sit only two points adrift of safety despite losing a league-high 17 games and scoring the joint-fewest goals across the season (20).

Albeit losing on Wednesday, Selles has won seven points from his first five matches as the boss and has explained exactly what he believes will be needed to beat the drop.

Speaking ahead of the visit from Spurs, he insisted: “The margin is going to be one point or even equal points until the very end.

"We are confident we can do it and have already made some performances in the last month. We are getting some flow in our game and as long as we learn from situations like Brentford for example, we can stay up and we are confident we can do it of course.”

The Spaniard continued: “It’s all about focus, it’s all about mentality and trying to control things. It’s all about habits and thinking about yourself first.

“It’s all about reducing the noise from the table or outside every time. For example, one month ago everyone thought we would be relegated and had no chance to survive.

“Now, it is a completely different picture. The mentality is everything and of course, football is important, but teams who didn’t expect to be there will be there and other teams will find confidence.”

Saints have what would be considered a tough run-in on paper, facing Spurs, Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Fulham, Brighton and Liverpool before their fate is sealed.

However, aside from victories over AFC Bournemouth and Everton under Ralph Hasenhuttl and Nathan Jones respectively, some of their best performances and results have come against top sides.

Six of their 22 points came versus Chelsea while Saints also held Arsenal to a draw before the aforementioned Hasenhuttl was sacked. They most recently battled to a point at Manchester United’s Old Trafford.

“It’s not going to be over until the very end, it’s about who is stronger in the mind and can take ownership in the games,” Selles said. “Who can show more of their principles in the game?

“It’s about how strong you are in the group, your mentality in how you prepare for the games and how you can stay together in tough moments. You need to reduce the noise and focus on what you can control.”