ALEX EASES PELL’S HELL

SOUTHAMPTON goalkeeper Alex Mccarthy says under-fire manager Mauricio Pellegrino has the full backing of the dressing room.

Pellegrino was subjected to taunts of “You don’t know what you’re doing” from Saints fans during last weekend’s nervy 1-0 FA Cup win at Championship club Fulham.

But even though Saints travel to Watford today without a Premier League win in nine matches, Mccarthy (above) said: “We are 100 per cent behind the manager. If everyone is pulling in the right direction it makes it a lot easier.

“We have had a dip but hopefully we can turn that around and go on a good run. Hopefully we can start getting wins and move up the league.”

Saints find themselves in 17th place in the table – outside the relegation zone only on goal difference. But Mccarthy, who has ousted Fraser Forster as the south coast side’s No.1, added: “I don’t think any of the lads will say that relegation is all we are thinking about.”

Pellegrino is out for revenge after losing 2-0 at home to Watford in September in one of his first games in charge at St Mary’s.

The Argentinian said: “It is a massive game for us but I think we are better prepared than we were at the beginning of the season.

“Watford have similar qualities as us. Our preparation was good and in the last two games I saw that everybody knows what we need to do to change the situation. In all aspects we have moved forward and want to show against Watford that we are growing.”