Graeme Le Saux tips Southampton to survive

Former Southampton defender Graeme Le Saux has backed the club to fight off the threat of relegation from the Premier League this season.

With nine matches left to play, the Saints are 16th in the Premier League table and have a four-point margin between themselves and the relegation zone.

Having watched Mauricio Pochettino's team in action on numerous occasions, Le Saux has expressed his confidence that his former employers will still be a top-flight club when the campaign ends.

"The current Southampton team is very confident and their goal difference is much better than those beneath them," Le Saux told the Daily Echo "I've seen them quite a few times away from St Mary's and, thankfully, they've been much more positive since Christmas."

Le Saux was relegated with the Saints during his last season as a professional in 2005.