Saints this weekend have the chance to extend their awesome home form and confirm their place amongst the most in-form sides in the country on their own turf.

Nigel Adkins has seen his team go seven league matches unbeaten at St Mary’s – nine in all competitions - with five of those wins and two, including the last match against Brighton, ending in draws.

That record is the envy of many in the League One and has been a massive help to Saints’ position in the table due to a quirk of fate that has seen them play only one away game in the last month and a half.

If Saints’ run is just taken over the traditional six game form table period then no club in the English professional leagues can boast a better record.

Going into this weekend Saints have taken 16 points from their last six home matches, the draw with Brighton breaking a run of five straight victories.

Only Premier League leaders Manchester United and League Two table toppers Port Vale can match that 16 point record.

The most in form home side in the Championship is Derby who have 15 points from their last six.

To put it into context Saints have taken three more points from their last six home games than Chelsea and have a five point advantage over Manchester City.

Astonishingly, Saints have netted seven more points than Premier League leaders Arsenal have managed at the Emirates Stadium in the form table period.

Victory over Brentford at St Mary’s this afternoon would keep that form table constant for Saints.

With Saints having played so many games at home recently – today’s game will be their sixth in seven – they also ride high in the general form table, despite that away match yielding a defeat at Carlisle.

In the reckoning of the 92 league clubs, Charlton sit top, going into this weekend with 16 points from their last six league matches.

Manchester United are second with 14 with Saints level with Manchester City and Bristol City in third place having collected 13 points.

Brentford though will pose a tough test because of their away record.

Their four back-to-back victories on the road means in the away form table only Bury, Swansea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Cardiff and Wycombe can boast better records in the last six.