ALAN Pardew has called on his Saints side to be one of the best two teams in the division between now and the end of the season in order to reach the play-offs.

The Saints boss saw his side record a terrific 2-0 win at league leaders Norwich at the weekend.

However, they remain a whopping 17 points off of the top six with two games in hand.

In order to reach the 76-point level – the minimim requirement for a play-off place on average over the last 10 third tier seasons – Saints need to bank 39 points from 17 matches.

At present they have 37 points from 29 games.

They could reach 76 points by winning 13 and losing four of their 17 matches.

Alternatively, they could win 12, draw three and lose two or win 11, draw six and lose none.

Whichever way, it is a very tall order to reach the top six.

They certainly need a bit of momentum – but with Saints travelling to second bottom Wycombe tonight and then facing Walsall at home on Saturday, they do have the opportunity to string together some wins.

Pardew said: “I genuinely feel that at the start of the season we were a bottom three club and then got ourselves up to a mid-table side in terms of performances and results.

“The middle part of the season, the second third, we’ve been like a play-off team and the results stand up.

“Now we need to be one of the best two teams in the division."

Full story in today's Daily Echo