MANCHESTER United and Saints are both members of the select few who have spent more than a quarter of century in the top flight, yet they could not be further apart in terms of wealth and world renown.

While Saints have always had a terrific loyal fan base, unless you are involved in European competition on a fairly regular basis, you find your fans abroad are usually ex-pats who are happy to get up in middle of night in Australia to watch the live games.

United, on the other hand, have so many supporters that they regularly tour North America and Asia, playing to packed houses.

Yet, strangely, both clubs have taken part in certainly two of the most dramatic days in the Southampton club's history.

Supporters continually tell me the best weekend they ever remember was 1976 when, of course, we beat the odds-on favourites United at Wembley.

To balance that off, United, strangely for them, were relegated with us in 1974.

We felt extremely unlucky to be the first in league history to be relegated from third bottom with 36 points but United had no arguments, going down second bottom along with, ironically, Norwich City, who are again involved in the drama that will unfold painfully for three teams and gloriously for one tomorrow afternoon.

While the arrival of the Premiership has obviously been the most significant change in recent years, I keep reminding people that bringing in the rule that made home teams keep all the receipts on matchdays, instead of the previous method of each team taking a percentage, effectively pulled the bigger clubs further away from the likes of us. Especially as it coincided with the capacity of our lovely old Dell ground being reduced from 31,000 to an eventual 15,000.

However, being so well run on and off the field over the years helped us keep touch with the bigger clubs.

The management worked within set budgets, a well-oiled conveyor belt of youth came through the ranks with a regular production of first team players, and those who didn't quite make it were sold on to lower division clubs, which in turn financed the whole scheme.

So we were able not just to survive but to compete at the top end with our old friends from Old Trafford.

So how ironical that, when the clock strikes three tomorrow afternoon to start the next biggest day in the club's history, our opponents will be once again the mighty Manchester United.

I recently poured water in this column on the suggestion that deals can be done whereby clubs in a safe position can make it easier for their opponents.

But, even having said that, I did think with United having the Cup final the following week that our task may have been a bit easier.

But events since then worry me, particularly the fact that, in their last home game at Old Trafford, they were reminded by Chelsea that there is far more competition now for the Premiership crown that Sir Alex and his team have won more often than any other.

But the most significant factor was that, as the team did their traditional lap of honour after the final whistle to thank their supporters for loyally turning up - 67,000 of them on a regular basis, in fact - the pictures on TV and in the papers showed that about two thirds of the ground had already emptied.

Alex, pictured right, would not have liked that and I'm sure it insures that his team will be playing more for pride than places this weekend.

And, while he knows it has never been an easy game down here, having lost more than once, I think they will probably be ready to try and appease their disappointed supporters following the Chelsea result.

Of course, even if Harry and the boys were able to pull off a win, the sad thing is it may still not be enough if the Canaries are able to herald the dawning of another season in the top flight with a win at Craven Cottage.

Sunday is traditionally a time for praying and I would think that the church attendances could well be up in at least four areas this weekend, such is the fervour of the man on the terrace.

Tears will undoubtedly be shed at every one of the four games.

Let's hope ones at St Mary's are tears of joy.

After all, we are the Saints.