BOSS Russell Martin urged the Saints fans to continue their support of the team as the "players need them" for the season's climax.

Flynn Downes' late winner sealed a thrilling 3-2 win over Watford on Saturday with his goal sparking wild celebrations inside St Mary's.

With five games left in the Championship, Saints retain a chance of automatic promotion due to the stuttering form of their promotion rivals.

Martin insists he is pleased with the relationship between his players and the club's supporters - something needed "now more than ever".

Speaking ahead of the visit of Preston, he said: "The fans have been incredible since we've come in. The way they've received us.

"Even during a few moments on Saturday, I always feel like it's a real minority. And then the majority took over and really pushed the team on at 2-2.

"It was so easy at that point for it to be really difficult, (with regards to) the energy in the stadium.

"But actually, the fans were great and they got so behind the team. I love the connection between the supporters and the team and how that's grown.

"The moments like Saturday, the last second, hopefully that helps it even further, but we are going to need them."

Martin continued: "We've had so many coaches come in and say, well, the stadium, the atmosphere, how different it is now coming here to when we've been before.

"And that's a huge compliment to the supporters and to the players for what they've done, so, we have to keep growing that and keep building that.

"Now more than ever, the players need them. The players need the supporters in the really good times and the tough moments as well."

Saints host Preston North End on Tuesday looking to make it three home wins on the spin. Martin reiterated a message from Saturday's match-winner Downes.

He added: "I think (there is) an acceptance that there are going to be a few scary moments in the game. Flynn said it after the game better than I could.

"We're at a point now with five games left, the style of the team is not going to change so we need to be better and we need to do better. 

"They will need to try and stick with it as much as they can because the players will need that help at some point. It's going to be important."

Saints are currently eight points behind leaders Ipswich Town with two games in hand, while they are seven points off second-placed Leicester City. 

The 38 year old is fully aware of how difficult the run-in will be but knows his side must remain focused on the next game and not look too far ahead.

"We will take one game at a time, focus on us, focus on how we can improve," Martin insisted.

"I think we've gone back to being hard to beat and really hard to play against, and we need to continue that.

"I'm really pleased with the guys, the character they showed, and we're going to have to show that in abundance over the next five games.

"But it's all about tomorrow now, and we need to take care of that. It's really that simple."