Manning scored on Saturday in a 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday to ensure Saints remained within touching distance of the top six.

Tonda Eckert's side are seventh in the division, four points adrift of Wrexham, whom they face on Easter Weekend in a promotion six-pointer.

Manning says Saints are paying the price for a slow start with their league position but is confident they are close to where they need to be.

"Anytime you go away, despite the circumstances here, and win 3-1, you take it. Especially at this time of the season, when points are absolutely vital," he told the Daily Echo.

Southampton's Ryan Manning scored his sixth of the season at Sheffield Wednesday. (Image: Cody Froggatt/PA)

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"That takes our streak to nine games where we're unbeaten, which is massive. It puts us back up the table, closer to where we want to be, not quite where we need to be.

"This was a solid away performance at a tough ground to play at. We have to play a lot of...