SAINTS boss Ralph Hasenhuttl claims his players will be able to handle the pressure at St Mary’s this evening.

The south coast side have an appalling record on home soil and know that a Watford win would see them end the night bottom of the Premier League table.

Although the players are under pressure to seal a positive result, Hasenhuttl believes they will be able to deal with the occasion.

“I don’t think there is more pressure than we make ourselves,” said the Austrian.

“Every player wants to win games and we put the most pressure possible on ourselves all the time.

“We need this I think to perform well and the bigger or more important the game, the better it is.

“Last season, we also had games where it was important to take three points.

“In the end, when the game starts, you don’t think about that.

“It’s more important to have a good start in the game and win the first duels.

“You want a feeling that what we are trying to do is working and this is what we are looking for and this is what our whole concentration in the week is on.”

Although he is backing his side to beat Watford, Hasenhuttl reassured supporters that a defeat won’t end in relegation.

Following Saints’ clash with the Hornets, they will host fellow strugglers Norwich, before a trip to Newcastle.

After their St James’ Park encounter, they’ll welcome West Ham to St Mary’s and then head on the road to Aston Villa.

This run of matches could prove to define their season, which is why Hasenhuttl is hoping a number of solid performances will let the table sort itself out.

He added: “I think the most important thing is to take the first win but still then there is nothing won.

“We know about the importance of the next weeks and we still have a long way to go until the end of the season.

“Even if this game doesn’t go in the way we want, everything isn’t lost.

“Let us look at our performance and our development. If we do this then results and places in the table will come our way.”