Well, that`s how it feels right now.  Last evening I watched Southampton lose to West Ham 1-0 in what for both teams might well have been a must win six pointer.  Sadly for me, the three points on offer went to the visitors to St. Mary`s and left the Saints still (just) in the relegation zone of the Premier League.   So next week`s away fixture against Aston Villa is even more crucial, as the Villa are one place above the Saints thanks to a superior goal difference.

Now, some of my very good friends are West Ham supporters and they have been conspicuous by their silence following last night`s events.  They may be keeping quiet out of respect for the feelings of an octogenarian Saints fan but they need not be concerned - Southampton were awful and West Ham deserved to win.

But that is the sixth time in the last nine games that the Saints have lost at home and despite a recent mini revival, it really does seem that there are severe problems surrounding the club, its Oriental owner, its eclectic collection of coaching staff and the distinct lack of quality and character amongst the playing squad.  So it may be just a matter of time before the walls come tumbling down.

So I need to look elsewhere for some solace after this disappointment and I see that Truro City continue to top the league in the Vanarama National League South Division following yet another away win at Hayes and Yeading;  Gillingham cemented their place in mid table of League One with a creditable 1-1 draw away at Fleetwood and Wimbledon managed a 2-1 win against Doncaster, despite the enforced absence through injury of Captain Scott Wagstaff;   Maidstone United conjured up a late defeat against Concord Rangers (neither have I) in the FA Trophy and Forest Green Rovers slipped again in a 1-0 defeat away at Northampton.   Mercifully Fort William`s game was called off due to bad weather.

Forest Green`s decline over the last couple of weeks has seen them slip from the top of the League Two table but their current problems are as nothing compared to those down at St. Mary`s.   The eternal lot of the dedicated Saints fan shows no sign of changing any time soon but the faith will be kept, the loyalty will remain and life in the Championship might not be so bad after all?