MIDFIELDER Will Smallbone says in-form Saints are looking forward to 2024 after they ended 2023 on a high.

Southampton will enter the new year in the midst of a 17-game unbeaten run, which stretches back to September 30.

With their win over Plymouth on Friday evening and Ipswich drawing 0-0 with QPR, Saints have cut the gap to second place to just three points.

Leeds United's 1-0 loss to West Brom has also increased the south coast side's buffer to the fourth-placed side.

Saints will kickstart the new year against Ipswich's local rivals Norwich City, who Smallbone points out will also be hoping to welcome in the new year with three points.

Speaking to the Daily Echo after Southampton's 2-1 win over Plymouth, the Irish international insisted that Saints will continue to think about themselves, rather than the teams around them.

He said: “We are going to have to concentrate on ourselves all season. It’s a 46-game season. They’ve set such a high pace, if they keep it going all season then fair play to them.

“We can only concentrate on what we are doing. I think we have done that well over the last few months. When we are in this groove we are looking forward to every game."

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He continued: “We are looking forward to kicking off 2024 at Norwich and hopefully we can carry on this streak.

"When we are winning as many games as we are, you want the next game to come as quickly as possible.

“The number of games over the Christmas period has been incredible for us. The confidence is very high in the dressing room right now and long may it continue.

“Carrow Road is always a tough place to go. Norwich are a good side. They’ll be looking to kick off 2024 as well as we will be.

"It will be a good game. I’m looking forward to seeing our fans travel there. They travel in really good numbers."

Southampton's win over Plymouth extended their home winning streak to seven games.

“I’m really happy we have continued our form at St Mary’s," Smallbone continued. 

"We have been really good here recently and it is starting to feel like a real home for us.

"It was important for us to start the game fast. We grew into the game. They came to frustrate us, which I think a lot of teams will do in the future, but we had to be patient.

"We did that well and on another night we could have maybe scored a few more. I’m really happy with the win."

Charly Alcaraz opened the scoring in fashion by crashing a shot into the far top corner from the edge of the box.

His goal came moments after Bali Mumba had a goal controversially chalked out at the other end.

“I haven’t seen it back so I don’t know. As soon as it went in and I saw the flag I thought we need to get down the other end as quickly as we can.

"Gav did well to play it out. Charly also did well to score a brilliant goal. We are all happy for him. He does that in training and I’m buzzing for him to do it in a match.

"He has been a bit frustrated in the last few weeks with game time. He has been really good when he has played in the last few games.

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"He has got that bit of flair in him. He is a really good teammate and everyone in there is really pleased for him."

Smallbone felt that Southampton’s ability to bounce straight back after Plymouth’s ruled-out goal was a demonstration of how far their mentality has come this season.

He added: “From feeling like we had gone behind to quickly changing our mindset and then go ahead under them circumstances is really good for us."

Southampton were on course to keep their fifth consecutive clean sheet at St Mary's before Ryan Hardie pounced on a Gavin Bazunu mistake in the 91st minute.

The substitute pinched the ball from the Irish international after he received a bouncing backpass from Jack Stephens.

Martin refused to lay the blame at Bazunu's feet and Smallbone was in agreement with his manager after the game.

“Gav has been brilliant all season. He has been brilliant with the ball, but sometimes those mistakes come. 

"If any other player makes that mistake it probably doesn’t get punished. 

“For Gav to make that mistake and get punished it’s disappointing, but he will come back from it. We did well to see out the game because it was getting a bit tense.

“Getting over the line was really important for us to keep the home run going.”