Palace can pile further pressure on Wigley

Rupert Lowe says tomorrow's game against Crystal Palace is not do or die for Southampton.

His manager, Steve Wigley, may seem to be hanging on to his job by a thread, but the chairman is not talking about cutting it just yet.

Wigley's record since taking over from Paul Sturrock in August is poor - it includes just one Premiership win and the shock of an exit from the Carling Cup against Watford - but his chairman isn't talking about wielding the axe for now.

Lowe said: "It is a big match for both of us and one which we would hope to win. But no game is do or die. It is about the long haul. People need to pull together and that is what the club are doing."

Wigley's opposite number tomorrow, Iain Dowie, needs to make matters worse for Southampton to keep Palace clear of the bottom three. But Dowie said: "Everybody's got a bit of sympathy for Wigley. He has put his head on the block. This game is very cut-throat and we are all in the results business."

Six managers have left Southampton since Lowe took over as chairman in 1997. Fitz Hall was at Southampton for just a year and had two managers - Gordon Strachan and Sturrock.

He did not play much under either and left for a key role at Palace in a £1.5million deal in August, but he got to know Wigley. He said: "Steve was assistant manager when I was there. He is a top man and good coach. He needs to turn things around and I hope everything goes well for him - after tomorrow."

All of the turmoil by the sea must make Dowie - likely to be linked with any vacancy at Southampton - feel a little more comfortable at Palace, despite his own team's proximity to the relegation zone.

He may not always agree with chairman Simon Jordan, or have too much money to spend, but he can be relatively confident of his position.

Aki Riihilahti's Achilles problem is the only slight concern for Dowie, who otherwise has a fully fit squad to chose from. Wigley could have midfielder Neil McCann back following a broken toe.