Matt Le Tissier is hoping that St Mary’s can continue to be somewhat of a fortress in the coming weeks.
Saints face Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion in back-to-back home fixtures in the Premier League next up.
And with table-topping Chelsea the only side to leave with three points so far this season, Le Tissier is hoping for home comforts over the festive period.
He said: “The away form hadn’t been brilliant this season, just the win at West Ham before we went and beat Bournemouth.
“It’s important when you’re not picking up loads of wins away from home that your home form is strong.
“It’s only Chelsea that have come here and beaten us this season so that’s pretty good, but Spurs will be a tough proposition.
“They’re a good football team and West Brom as well have been on a decent run and are very near to us in the table so that’s a big game to go and win.
“It’s great for the fans to have two games over Christmas both at home and I’ll be at the Tottenham one.”
Defensive solidity has been a cornerstone of that success, with Claude Puel’s side not conceding a home Premier League goal in five hours and five minutes of football, and one player in particular has stood out for Le Tissier.
“I think Virgil van Dijk is probably the best centre back in the league at the moment,” he continued.
“I barely see him put a foot wrong throughout the season and I think since he’s been at the club, he ranks amongst the best centre-backs I’ve ever seen at Southampton if I’m honest.
“He’s a huge presence at the back. I’ve often said when speaking about him, he looks like a fully-grown adult playing in a kids game with how easy he makes things look.
“With that physical presence there’s not going to be many people who ever beat him to a header.”
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