Saints are now ready to challenge for promotion - to the middle of the Premiership. That's the verdict of delighted boss Glenn Hoddle after his side's gutsy 0-0 draw at Liverpool yesterday.

Before the game Hoddle pointed to the three divisions within the Premier League and challenged his players to prove they are capable of establishing themselves as a strong middle-order side next season.

They did that at Anfield not by negative defending but with an intelligent and well-constructed team performance which almost produced a memorable victory.

Hoddle said: "We have to get away from the mini-league of teams fighting against the drop and into the second division in the Premiership - and this display proves we can do it.

"We can take it on from here. It says something that we came away disappointed with a draw.

"We had the better chances and dominated for long spells particularly in the first half. Tactically and technically we were spot on and caused them all sorts of problems.

"Liverpool ended up making changes to combat us. The fact their keeper was man-of-the-match suggests we were dominant and I'll settle for that.

"After the last three performances, I am absolutely delighted with the way we played. We have got our pride back.

"Over 90 minutes this was the best we have played all season.

"Individually, everyone played superbly. They all gave a nine-out-of-ten display and, as a team, they kept to the tactics and structure."

Skipper Jason Dodd added: "We lost 7-1 at Liverpool last season and I think people expected the same again.

"The manager wanted us to dig in and that's what we did. It's not often you come to Anfield and go away disappointed with a draw.

"We knew we had let people down in our last few games and it was important to us to finish on a high. We had something to prove to our supporters."

Liverpool have now gone four games without a win and six-and- a-half hours without a goal, leaving Leeds needing just four points from their remaining two games to be sure of a place in the Champions' League next season, starting with Everton tonight.

l Paul Hughes, recently signed on a short-term free transfer from Chelsea, tonight gets his last chance to impress as Saints Reserves wind up their season against Coventry at Staplewood (kick-off 7pm).

The midfielder is hoping he has done enough to earn a longer deal at The Dell from next season while Dani Rodrigues will be pushing his claims for another first-team call-up after sitting on the bench at Anfield yesterday. Latvian winger Imants Bleidelis is also bidding to secure a senior call-up.

Saints reserves: Bevan, Leal, Colleter, P Hughes, Monk, Benali, Bleidelis, Gibbens, Rodrigues, Ashford, Boa Morte, M Davies, Wallace, Huxley, Madgwick.

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