SAINTS’ slim chances of a play-off place will be helped by the abundance of home games they have left, according to Alan Pardew.

Starting with today’s visit of Walsall, ten of the club’s remaining 16 League One matches will be played at St Mary’s.

Saints have lost just twice on their own turf this season, to Bristol Rovers and Brighton.

Pardew believes that schedule gives them a chance of pushing for the play-offs, even though they currently trail the top six by 19 points.

And matchday skipper Dean Hammond thinks the backing the team will receive at St Mary’s could help swing things their way.

Pardew said: “We have ten at home and six away and we have some fantastic games in front of us, with some of the big teams coming to our place, so we still have an opportunity and that is what we have to focus upon.”

The Saints boss added: “We can still make some sort of impact.”

Full story in today's Daily Echo