Redknapp looks for a lifeline in titanic struggle

Harry Redknapp feels like he is on the Titanic scrambling for a lifeboat, writes Leo Spall.
The Southampton manager has got that sinking feeling as he prepares his team to go to Crystal Palace tomorrow.

Only one of the Premiership's bottom four will escape the drop and Redknapp said friendships - such as his with Palace manager Iain Dowie - have to be forgotten.

The Southampton manager said: "It is like we are on the Titanic and there is only one lifeboat left. We are all trying to dive in it and there is only one seat on it. I would not like to fight Dowie for that last place but I want Palace to go down and that is how bad this situation is.

"I like him and I like Bryan Robson at West Brom. Norwich's Nigel Worthington as well, they are all good lads and we get on but that is how it is - you are wishing them the worst.

"I feel that we have got players that can keep us up. We have got forwards who can score goals, we have just got to stop conceding silly ones."

Southampton showed that last weekend when they beat fellow strugglers Norwich 4-3.

Worthington claims his side are ready to bounce back against Birmingham at Carrow Road tomorrow and even though events at Selhurst Park will have a direct bearing on their survival prospects, he will not be keeping in touch with them.

The Norwich manager said: "The players' attitude on Monday morning was absolutely magnificent. They had smiles on their faces and were chirpy and read"I don't see any point in worrying about the results from elsewhere. We have got to focus on doing our own job."

At least West Brom manager Robson does not have that problem tomorrow.

His team may have to become the first to win at Manchester United in the league this season to have a realistic chance of survival, but the evening kick-offs means he will already know the scores from elsewhere.

Robson said: "If Southampton or Palace win we will have to go to Old Trafford and win."