RUSSELL MARTIN admits he will be cast as a "huge failure" if Southampton come a cropper in football's equivalent of pistols at dawn.
But he believes it is "madness" that his season's work boils down to just 90 minutes tomorrow.
Saints will face a precarious summer financially if they lose the £200million Championship promotion duel, the richest game in club football, at Wembley.
And manager Martin, 38, did not shy away from the high stakes as he prepared for a reunion with Daniel Farke, the man who bombed him out at Norwich six years ago.
Asked if there was pressure from above to restore Saints to the penthouse at the first time of asking, he said: "The pressure is every day in this job. The pressure is that I will be deemed a huge failure if we don't go up on Sunday, or I will be deemed as really successful.
Denne historien er fra May 25, 2024-utgaven av Daily Mirror UK.
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Denne historien er fra May 25, 2024-utgaven av Daily Mirror UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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DOPPELGANGERL
Hudson-Odoi hails Wood as Forest's very own Haaland
REDDY TO TAKE OVER!
Slot's relentless side are in a commanding position to grab the crown that is falling from City's grasp
Loss of urgency, LEWIS lack of care and a huge 82 drop off in form killing City's season
SHORTLY after Cody Gakpo had opened the scoring amid more abject defending from Manchester City, Phil Foden had to receive treatment for a knock to the knee.
AMOR TO THE POINT
It's only taken Ruben three games but United are already playing with style and swagger
Red scare can't stop Botafogo
ALEX TELLES scored from the spot as Botafogo overcame a first-minute red card to be crowned South America's champions at the Copa Libertadores.
QATAR ZERO
It's the pits as Lewis finishes pointless after puncture & two penalties
Ryggs is a lethal weapon
RYGGS JOHNSTON won on only his second DP World Tour start as he captured the Australian Open in impressive fashion.
BRY & MIGHTY
Stokes hails Carse as 'three bowlers in one' as 10-wicket haul fires England to victory
REED ON THE ROAD TO TOP OF THE WORLD
ARRON REED was tipped for \"world-class\" status after scoring twice as Sale hit Leicester for six.
IT'S MOUTH ALMIGHTY
LOSSIEMOUTH is as short as 6-4 favourite (from 5-2) for the Champion Hurdle next March after posting an impressive victory in the Grade 1 Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
