HARRY REDKNAPP described Crystal Palace's surprise home loss to Middlesbrough as "a bonus" for Saints.

Though possibly his delight would have been tempered by third-from-bottom West Brom drawing level with Saints yesterday after stunning Everton.

But Pompey remain just four points ahead of Saints after letting a half-time lead slip to crash 3-1 at Fulham.

Pompey have now won only one of their last 12 league matches and have taken just a single point out of the last 18 available.

Harry Redknapp's former club remain just four points above Saints with seven games left - including the south coast derby clash at Fratton Park on Sunday, April 24.

"There are certain games when you look and say it's a bonus game," admitted Redknapp after Saints' defeat by Chelsea.

"Definitely it is a bonus that Palace lost.

"I'm sure Iain would have looked at our game and thought 'Southampton will get beat by Chelsea and we will beat Middlesbrough who are bang out of form'."

With winnable games against Blackburn, Aston Villa, Bolton, Pompey, Norwich and Crystal Palace to come, Redknapp remains confident in his team.

He added: "I like the look of the team, it's a decent-looking team and we are capable of winning games.

"It was our first defeat for a long time when I've had that team playing.

"There was very little in the game, but Chelsea are obviously top class."

Defeat ended Saints' seasonal best Premiership run of five games without defeat and the loss was their first in 13 home league games at St Mary's.

But Saints did become the first team to score against Chelsea in two league matches this term!