THE FA Cup may not be top of Saints’ list of priorities, but a win is not to be sniffed at – particularly at such an important point in the season.

No matter what Alan Pardew’s aspirations are for this campaign, it feels like we are in a vital few weeks right now.

Having had a minor setback to hold them in the bottom four of League One when they had been hoping to push onwards and upwards, comes a run of fixtures that could define the season.

They normally say Christmas defines a season, or even Easter.

But for Saints this feels like a run of games that will have a massive bearing on their campaign.

Four back-to-back league games that look eminently winnable give Saints the chance to build themselves a real platform to move on from.

If Saints are just intent on a midtable finish then they really need to be looking to this run of games, that, after Hartlepool last week, takes in Wycombe at home, Walsall away and then Tranmere at home, to give themselves some breathing space.

If they are still in the bottom four in the New Year it would be a blow.

If Saints have ambitions to make a charge up the table, maybe for a tilt at the play-offs, then they need these games to give them a springboard.

If it doesn’t happen now then it won’t this season.

Also, a healthier looking league table may convince the owners of the club to release funds in January that otherwise might not come so imminently.

One win had already been secured – at Hartlepool – to get that run off to a good start.

But with the FA Cup coming in the middle of it all, it was something of a distraction.

However, a Saints win was always going to make it a relatively welcome one.

Saints need to keep a sense of momentum going to push them through this run of games with a run of victories to show for it.

When you seek momentum you can’t afford to take your foot off the gas for a second, whether you are aiming to win the FA Cup or are just there to enjoy your participation and see where it takes you.

The winning habit is not something you can switch on and off when you choose.

You can’t ease off in a certain game and then expect to automatically be able to pick up again.

Football just doesn’t work like that.

So Saints’ progress against Northampton was the kind of boost, the kind of filling in the cake of the league matches, that Pardew really needed.

Without David Connolly, Pardew switched to the 4-5-1 formation and away from home it worked well again.

Rickie Lambert was immense up front, linking up the play superbly in a virtuoso display of lone striking.

The balance in midfield was also great – Papa Waigo’s line hugging pace on the right, Adam Lallana drifting in from the left, Paul Wotton sitting just in front of the back four to allow Dean Hammond and Morgan Schneiderlin to break forward to support Lambert.

And then at the back Saints were a model of composure and experience, led by Graeme Murty who was terrific in only his second start since August.

Northampton’s biggest threat came from set pieces, in particularly the long throw of Andy Holt which was not only huge but accurate.

The Cobblers were a plucky bunch and Saints had to match their workrate and win plenty of balls in the air to earn their right to play.

They did that and when they played they were too good for their League Two opponents.

Bartosz Bialkowski had his only real save of the match to make after just two minutes as he turned Patrick Kanyuka’s shot onto the post and away as Northampton flew out of the traps.

Saints got to grips with the game and had an early penalty shout for handball waved away before Dean Hammond twice stretched Chris Dunn.

First his header forced a full length diving save to Dunn’s left before a shot from distance required turning over the bar.

If there was a doubt over the penalty Saints might have had, there was none over Northampton’s shout on 28 minutes when Dan Harding clearly shoved Steve Guinan in the back as he rose to head the ball, but he got away with it.

Saints never looked back.

They should have taken the lead on the half hour mark when Lambert’s lob put Waigo clean through on goal.

However, with time to think, he looked decidedly nervy and eventually dwelt so long that Craig Hinton got back to block his eventual shot.

But, with no time to think, Waigo made no mistake on 41 minutes, putting his diving header from six yards in the bottom corner after a good ball from the left by-line from Lambert.

Saints gave themselves breathing space when they made it 2-0 just two minutes later, Waigo this time provider with a high right wing cross that Lallana headed into the same bottom corner.

The game could have been interesting had Guinan converted a free header just before half time.

But after Saints saw off early second half pressure, which included Murty heading Kanyuka’s effort off the line, they sealed the win on 59 minutes, this time Hammond heading home.

Dunn half stopped it but the linesman flagged that the ball had crossed the line and the goal was awarded.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Saints from then on. Northampton pulled one back on 65 minutes when Dean Hammond turned Adebayo Akinfenwa’s header into his own net.

It was a desperate last ditch attempt at a clearance with Guinan waiting and certain to score if Hammond left it.

But then Saints killed the tie off.

They used all their experience to just play for time, keep the ball and limit their opponents to no chances at all.

Deep into stoppage time Ryan Gilligan converted a penalty for handball against Hammond.

But it was virtually the last kick of the game and Saints had easily done enough.

It was about as professional as an FA Cup win at lower league opposition gets.

And for Saints it was a welcome boost in a season-defining run of games.