SOUTHAMPTON fans are steeling themselves for a make-or-break month as their team try to beat Town, Peterborough, MK Dons and Bournemouth to League I’s second automatic promotion spot.

That’s the view of Gordon Simpson, who covers Saints for the Southern Daily Echo and says the St Mary’s faithful are desperate the club’s stay in the third tier lasts just two seasons.

While leaders Brighton look set fair after another win on Tuesday, Southampton sit in fourth, five points adrift of second-placed Town, but with three games in hand, and one point behind Peterborough, who have played one less than Lee Clark’s side.

Simpson says fans who watched Premier League football as recently as 2005 are confident Saints can convert that extra match time into points.

But the journalist himself believes keeping key players, especially Adam Lallana, in the equation, is vital during a run of 10 games in 36 days, starting at home to MK Dons on Saturday.

“The games in hand mean Saints are in control of their own destiny, but the backlog could turn out to be their downfall,” said Simpson.

“They had games off because of the weather back in December, then their FA Cup run led to rearrangements, and last Saturday’s match was postponed because of Plymouth’s international call-ups.

“Many were away, and the result is a very busy month which will test the strength of the squad to the full.

“Saints keep injury details close to their chest, but Morgan Schneiderlin, who has been a key man in midfield, has a knee problem which looks like keeping him out for a while.

“They also have worries over Lallana, who has a groin injury, and Alex Chamberlain, who left the stadium on crutches after the 1-1 draw at Charlton because of a damaged an ankle.

“Lallana is especially important – we’ve run articles on how Saints have achieved far better results when he’s been in the side – but he’s already had a couple of knee injuries this season, so keeping him fit is paramount.

“They did bring in midfielder Dale Stephens from Oldham on loan deadline day, and he could prove a very useful addition, while the fans will be looking to Rickie Lambert to lead the charge up front.

“He’s not been as consistent as he was last season, but he’s still weighed in with 17 goals and is a firm favourite.”

Last season’s 10-point deduction because of financial problems as Saints dropped out of the Championship limited expectations on the South coast.

But Simpson says that’s not the case this time, explaining: “I think most supporters would see it as a disaster if promotion doesn’t happen, and that can create additional pressure.

“You hope the experience Nigel Adkins had when leading Scunthorpe to promotion from this division will come in useful.

“It certainly looks like being a tense few weeks.

“While the fans down here are very optimistic I think they accept that it’s far from a done deal and that the other sides in the shake-up to accompany Brighton into the Championship are also strong, especially Huddersfield and Peterborough.

“For what it’s worth, I can see it going right to the wire, with a number of sides going into the final day still in with a chance.”

Full list of fixtures remaining for the top six broken down by team on next page.

BRIGHTON

Sat: Rochdale (A); Sat 9: Sheffield Wed (H); Tues 12: Dagenham & Red (H); Sat 16: Walsall (A); Sat 23: Southampton (H); Mon 25: Colchester (A); Sat 30: Town (H); Sat May 7: Notts Co (A).

TOWN

Sat: Tranmere (A); Sat 9: Peterborough (H); Sat 16: Charlton (A); Fri 22: MK Dons (A); Mon 25: Dagenham & Red (H); Sat 30: Brighton (A); Sat May 7: Brentford (H).

PETERBOROUGH

Tomorrow: Bournemouth (H); Tues: Dagenham & Red (A); Sat 9: Town (A); Sat 16: Plymouth (H); Fri 22: Leyton Orient (A); Mon 25: Yeovil (H); Sat 30: Rochdale (A); Sat May 7: Dagenham & Red (H).

SOUTHAMPTON

Sat: MK Dons (H); Tues: Charlton (H); Sat 9: Leyton Orient (A); Tues 12: Rochdale (A); Sat 16: Bristol Rovers (H); Sat 23: Brighton (A); Mon 25: Hartlepool (H); Sat 30: Brentford (A); Mon May 2: Plymouth (A); Sat 7: Walsall (H).

MK DONS

Sat: Southampton (A); Sat 9: Carlisle (H); Sat 16: Swindon (A); Fri 22: Town (H); Mon 25: Plymouth (A); Sat 30: Notts Co (H); Sat May 7: Oldham (A).

BOURNEMOUTH

Tomorrow: Peterborough (A); Tues: Bristol Rovers (A); Sat 9: Tranmere (H); Sat 16: Notts Co (A); Sat 23: Yeovil (A); Mon 25: Bristol Rovers (H); Mon 30 Hartlepool (A); Sat May 7: Rochdale (H).