Nigel Pearson will be on familiar territory when he attempts to guide Southampton to a dramatic last-day escape from relegation to Coca-Cola League One on Sunday.

Saints, who were only relegated from the Barclays Premier League three years ago, are favourites for the drop ahead of their clash with play-off chasing Sheffield United at St Mary's.

The south-coast side will kick off in the bottom three knowing even a win will not guarantee their safety unless one of Leicester, Sheffield Wednesday, Coventry or Blackpool slip up.

Pearson has been in stickier situations though, not least nine years ago when, as Carlisle manager, he was 10 seconds from dropping out of the Football League until goalkeeper Jimmy Glass famously scored the winner against Plymouth which kept the Cumbrians up.

"I am hoping it will not be a case of having to send the keeper up this time, but if that is what it takes then so be it," said the Saints boss.

"I have been through a few last-day squeaks and there is always a lot of tension. It will be almost impossible not to be aware of the other scores.

"But we cannot allow them to affect our game plan. The players have to concentrate on their own performance and get the result we need.

"Our preparation has been good and the players are all up for it. They know what's at stake and what they have to do - and they are ready for it."

Saints have endured another turbulent season on and off the field, with manager George Burley quitting for the Scotland job and controversial former chairman Rupert Lowe waiting in the wings to take over again.

The 2003 FA Cup finalists have had to sell players to stave off the threat of administration and face a bleak outlook should they follow the likes of Wednesday, Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, who have all dropped into the third tier in recent years.

But Pearson, who inherited the dire situation when he took over in February, is focused solely on the job in hand.

"It's tough because we do not hold all the cards," he added.

"What we have to do is make sure we win the game, do our bit and then hope someone else slips up.

"If we win and results don't go for us then we have to take it, but it would be horrible to see others lose and for us not to do our job."

Midfielder Andrew Surman, a lifelong Saints fan, is also under no illusions about the consequences of his local club slipping into the third division for the first time in 48 years.

"It's a massive game, one of the biggest in the club's history," said the England Under-21 star.

"It was disappointing to go down from the Premiership to the Championship, but to even think that we might end up getting relegated to League One is unthinkable.

"I'm trying not to think about that too much, but it would be absolutely devastating if that happened."

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