TRANMERE caretaker boss Les Parry believes his side can surprise Saints – even though he believes Alan Pardew’s men are as good as Leeds.

Rovers visit St Mary’s tomorrow for the League One encounter, with Saints firm favourites to win.

But Parry, who is assisted by reserves boss Shaun Garrett, has his side on a five-match unbeaten run.

Parry, who was the club’s physiotherapist, took over the reins after John Barnes and Jason McAteer were sacked in early October.

He takes his team to St Mary’s believing they will face a side as good as the League One leaders.

“They’d be in the playoffs if not for the ten-point deduction,” said Parry. “When you think about the start of the season as well, they had a pretty poor start to the season.

“They drew a lot of games and even with that taken into consideration they’d still be in the playoffs now.

“They’re on the back of four consecutive wins and only one defeat in 11 or 12 games or something, so they’re in excellent form.

“They’re probably up there with Leeds if you look at the better sides in the division, so it’s going to be a particularly difficult task.”

But Parry believes his side is capable of supplying a shock.

“Nobody will expect us, we’ll be on most people’s coupons for a defeat, and when we get something out of the game that’ll teach them for gambling,” said Parry.

“Huddersfield we did well and deserved a draw.

“So we can go to Southampton with a bit of confidence.

“We realise the chances of us winning, if you look at the form book and the players and the clubs, are slim, but that’s what we thrive on.

“We’ll go there confident, we’ll send the lads out there with it ringing in their ears that they’ve got a great chance.

“If they perform as well as they have been doing over the last couple of months we’ve got a great chance of coming away with something.”