MATT Targett is backing his fellow Saints teammates to cause an upset at the weekend by beating Manchester United.

Mark Hughes’ side have only won once at St Mary’s in a calendar year, but Targett reckons they won’t get a better chance to get the better of Jose Mourinho’s team.

The defender said: “It’s a big game for us.

“They [Manchester United] are struggling at the moment and they aren’t like the old Man Utd.

“We can get at them and hopefully turn things around.

“The fear factor has definitely gone, and you can see that from how they have played recently.

“They still have unbelievable talent, but defensively they still have problems.

“I think we can target that and cause them some problems.

“We have to be positive for any home game and try to win the match.

“We haven’t done that enough that season, but we have a chance to start that on Saturday.”

Targett has had to settle with a role on the bench for the most part of this season with Ryan Bertrand picked ahead of him in the left-back position.

But with Bertrand’s suspension, the 23-year-old has featured in Saints’ last two games against Fulham and Leicester.

Both matches ended in defeat, but Targett thinks he has seen enough from the team to give him the confidence that they can beat Man United.

The fixture on Saturday sparks the beginning of a brutal festive period for Hughes’ side as they will play Tottenham, Cardiff, Arsenal, Huddersfield, West Ham, Manchester City and Chelsea.

However, Targett reckons if they can take a victory over United into those games, then it bodes well for the rest of December.

Targett added: “It will do us the world of good with the games coming up and give us the confidence to get the fans back on our side and turn things around.

“But this is the Premier League, there are no easy games.

“Our performances have been better than the results suggest. Individual mistakes have cost us, as well as not being clinical enough in the final third.

“We are getting the chances, but we aren’t taking them.

“I think we have to go out and try to win every game, but we haven’t had the best of results, we are giving our everything to try and turn that around.”

Mourinho’s team will head to St Mary’s in a buoyant mood following their last-minute Champions League win against Young Boys courtesy of Marouane Fellaini.

You have to go back to August 2003 for the last time Saints beat United at St Mary’s in the Premier League.

James Beattie’s 88th minute winner was enough to see of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team that included stellar names like Ruud van Nistelrooy, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville.

It’s unlikely Targett will play when United come to town on Saturday regardless of the fact that Bertrand is available again.

The defender suffered a head collision during their Carabao Cup defeat to Leicester and was taken off just after the hour mark.

He confirmed that it’s now up to the club’s doctors to decide whether he will be able to pass the relevant tests required after a head injury in time to make the bench.

Daily Echo:

Matt Targett being taken off against Leicester after the head collision

“I took a bang in the head,” Targett added.

“I was struggling to see through my left eye and took the decision to come off.

“I’m feeling a bit better now, but it’s still fresh. I’m not sure if I’ll be ok for the weekend as that will be down to the club doctors.

“I can’t remember what the rules are.

“I think after a head injury it might be a case of four or five days out, but I’ll have to see.”