MANAGER Adam Asghar demanded Saints under-21s claim all three points against Stoke City on Friday evening to give them the best chance of reaching the Premier League 2 playoffs.

Southampton currently sit 20th in the PL2, three points below 16th place Norwich City - who occupy the final playoff spot.

Upon the end of the league season, the top 16 teams will compete in a single elimination knockout stage to crown a champion.

The top 12 will also be invited to take part in the next season’s Premier League International Cup competition.

Saints have six games remaining and Asghar has insisted now is the time to put points on the board during the "business end" of the season.

Speaking after their 1-1 draw against West Brom on Monday evening, the 29 year old told the club’s media team: “We have got to keep moving forward.

“This is the business end of the season now. We wanted to target six points - we have another game on Friday to get four.

“If you look at the table that will keep us in the hunt if we perform like that on a good surface at Staplewood.

“If we can do that then I think we have a really good chance of making this a good week and having a good end to the season.

“We have to target four points now. It has been a strange set-up with the league because it’s been quite inconsistent.

“Even with our player availability and staff changes, we don’t want to write that off. We have still brought in a decent style of play and we will keep developing that.

“We have now got a chance to get into the top 16. That means putting points on the board and pressure on the players.

“The challenge is to get three points against Stoke and keep the aspects of the performance against West Brom, which should lead to a positive result.”