Rudolf noses top spot

By Vasek Kadlec  

Rudolf noses top spot

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Southampton midfielder Rudolf Skacel insists his side must aim for top spot if they are to secure promotion from the Championship this season.

Skacel believes The Saints are good enough to win the Championship despite their poor start to the season.

Southampton lie currently fourth in the Championship, but Skacel insists his side have turned a corner and believes they can go on to secure automatic promotion without relying on the play-offs.

He told MF Dnes: "A high-quality team has been put together. There can be no other goal than promotion for us.

"We want to finish first or second which means automatic promotion. To rely on the play-offs would be very tricky."

The Czech Republic player, who joined from Hearts at the start of the season, insists he moved to St Mary's in a bid to gain promotion to the Premiership. 

"This is the reason why I came here. Southampton are a traditional English club with great facilities and people here love football.

"Moreover, people who I know from my spell at Hearts came in here as well. This was also another reason why I came here. 

"All people know that the league is not easy. Of course, a better start would have been preferable but we did not play so bad, we were just losing points. I did not see any reason to panic," he said.