Saints need to regroup, refocus and get a win tomorrow to ensure this week does not come to be seen as some sort of tipping point in the season.

As has been the way in this topsy-turvy campaign, everything seemed as if it was going in the right direction when Saints turned things around the last time it felt as if they were heading to a similar situation with a win over Everton and progress in the EFL Cup against Arsenal.

But then things turned sour with a horrible defeat at Crystal Palace and elimination from the Europa League courtesy of Thursday’s night home draw with Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

With all the talk over team selection, tactics, a lack of goals, and the Jose Fonte situation, not to mention Charlie Austin’s injury, Saints and Claude Puel really need something positive.

A home game against Middlesbrough offers the perfect chance to get three points on the board.

What Saints could really do with is a convincing performance as well as the win.

With so many questions over their goalscoring, and frustrations over a style of play that is not being particularly enjoyed by section of the supporters, due largely to a lack of goals, a solid victory would answer many questions.

It would allow Saints a real platform to focus on the Premier League and try to really make a good go of their top flight campaign.

Should the worse happen, and they fail to beat Boro, then you can already sense the kind of mood that will be engulfing the club ahead of a tricky looking trip to Stoke, before a derby game at Bournemouth.

The pressure will also ramp up a notch on Puel.

Though he is a very experienced manager who has seen it all before, there is no doubt his approach is being questioned.

He will accept that as an inevitability when the team is struggling for results, and also struggling in front of goal.

How much of this is of his making, and how much is down to the club’s transfer policy is certainly a point for debate.

What is not up for debate is how crucial this upcoming period is.

The Premier League table is still tightly bunched, and so a good run could really push Saints on and give hope that maybe they can challenge for European football again as Puel wants them to.

A bad run and suddenly that ship will have pretty much sailed, and then you are either looking over your shoulder or just mired in an uninspiring midtable battle with only really the EFL Cup semi-final left to generate much excitement.

The Boro game is not must win, it is not make or break, but it does seem an ideal time to build a launchpad for a new chapter in the season.