MANAGER Russell Martin described Saints game against Watford on Saturday as the "toughest game we have had for a while."

Saints travel to Vicarage Road tomorrow to face a Watford side who have lost just one of their last nine league games.

Watford have earned 18 points during that time and currently sit 10th in the Championship - their only defeat since the start of Watford coming against league leaders Leicester City.

Speaking ahead of his side's trip to Hertfordshire, Martin outlined the challenges that Watford could pose to Saints.

"Every game is tough in the Championship but this is our toughest game that we have had for a while.

"They’re in a really good place with a manager that seems to have evolved a lot since his last time in the Championship with West Brom.

"They have a mix of everything. They are direct, physical, athletic, they can play as well. They are playing some really good football and they can mix their game up.

"They have some really good players and it will be a really difficult challenge for us and the players are aware of that.

"The players have to be aware that every team that comes up against us at the minute is an obstacle that could get in the way of what we want to achieve."

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Watford are Saints first opponent in a three-game week which will also see them travel to Coventry City and host Blackburn Rovers.

He continued: "We are going to play three teams this week that are all really clear in their identity and have some stability in what they are doing with their managers. 

"This is a tough week for us, there is no doubt about it. There is no point in pretending to the players anything else.

"Whenever we have made the players aware of what is coming, they have stepped up to it. They have been amazing in taking on whatever it is they feel about that opposition and then doing the work

"It is the same tomorrow. There are going to be some scary moments, I’m convinced of that. How we ride them out and how we deal with them will define the result.

"If we can continue doing what we are doing with the players and the mentality and the conviction in what they are doing, the belief, the courage, and match that with the aggression then we are confident where we are going."