ALAN Pardew admits Saints are in a position where they have “no margin for error”.

Saints travel to Hartlepool tonight, without a win in their last three league matches.

Even with just one defeat in their last seven, they are still at least two good results away from escaping the relegation zone.

Having started the season on minus-ten and taken a little while to hit their stride, most teams have been given a good headstart on Pardew’s men.

That means a season of playing catch-up for Saints.

Whatever goal they reach, there is always going to be a new and harder one to achieve next.

Right now, it is escaping the relegation zone.

But if Saints want something to play for late in the campaign, Pardew knows they can’t afford to stall now.

“We’ve got no margin for error and that’s the problem,” he said.

“Each game’s pressure for us, a bit like when you’re chasing for those top two positions."

Full story in today's Daily Echo