NIGEL Adkins has declared that Saints “need to” continue averaging more than two points per game, as they enter the international break on top of the Championship.

The 4-0 win over Watford – the club’s 14th consecutive league success at St Mary’s – put daylight between the team and the rest of the division.

Saints, who were the only side that started Saturday in the top six to have won, are now two points clear of second-placed Middlesbrough.

Throughout nearly the first quarter of the season, Adkins’ men have displayed promotion-winning form.

With ten games gone, the manager took the opportunity to assess his side’s position going into a free week – and insisted they intend on maintaining their early results.

“Psychologically it’s good,” he said of the break. “One, in respect that we sit top of the league on 22 points after ten games.

“So that’s averaging more than two points a game, and that’s what we need to do.”

Full story in today's Daily Echo