'Saints not back in automatic promotion race until win over Cardiff'
- Published
Former Southampton striker Jo Tessem believes Russell Martin's side must win against Cardiff on Saturday to be back in the race for automatic promotion.
Leicester, Leeds and Ipswich all stumbling recently, coupled with Tuesday's 3-0 win over Preston, have moved Saints back within four points of the top two with four games to play.
"We're fourth - the table never lies," Tessem told BBC Radio Solent's Goin' Home With Adam and Jo podcast. "But of course we are [back in the automatic promotion hunt]. We've been given a lifeline.
"If we win against Cardiff ,we have the lifeline but we have to win - that's the truth of it. We're not in it until that game is won and that's on Saturday.
"Then the important games start after that but that game has to be won before we go to Leicester. Without that, I don't think we have a chance."
Southampton coasted past Preston with three first half goals at St Mary's on Tuesday evening and Tessem believes the visitors having nothing to play for gave his former team an easy night's work.
"We were good because Preston allowed us to be good," he added, "They gave us too much space and they weren't aggressive. They let us play. You could see after the first two minutes they were absolutely not up for it.
"It should have probably been more but Saints had control and Preston had no sniff of goal. I don't mind it being boring when it's controlled boring. It was a well controlled, good game throughout."