Kevin Phillips issues Saints warning to West Bromwich Albion

Apr 28 2008 By Chris Lepkowski

KEVIN Phillips has revealed Albion players have been 'relaxed' ahead of tonight's game against Southampton - despite being just five minutes away from a Premier League return.

Ian Ashbee's 85th-minute winner for third-placed Hull against Crystal Palace means Albion still need a point to be certain of a top-two finish.

Phillips, who spent Saturday with his family, claims he and his team-mates are desperate to get stuck into tonight's televised game.

And the 34-year-old, who spent two years at Southampton, believes the task will be made harder by the fact his former club are in the bottom three.

"We know it'll be a huge game tonight for both clubs," he said.

"I stayed away from watching the results come in on Saturday as I was with my family.

"But Stoke and Hull's results make it even more important for us tonight.

"We know it's still within our own hands to win this league and get promotion and we've got to make the most of that.

"The players are relaxed and we're all just desperate to play now because it's been such a long week - it's really dragged on in many respects.

"But we can now focus fully on tonight. It'll be a huge game for both clubs - they need the points and we need the points."