The only direction Alan Pardew is looking in is up after his side got out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.

Victory over Wycombe Wanderers in the first meeting between the two clubs at St. Mary's pulled Saints clear of the bottom four, and continued the momentum that Pardew's team has established in the last few weeks.

"It's very important for us because it gives us a target of mid-table and how quickly can we get to mid-table," he highlighted.

"The last 16 or 17 games we've been probably as good as anyone in the division with the exception probably of Leeds. So now is a time to build and keep strong.

"They had a lot of possession in the second half by taking a lot of chances but they needed to hold a high line to do that. They didn't have a shot I can remember Bart dealing with other than a long distance shot.

"We defended well and it was good to see Chris Perry back to his best and Murty, who has added to us massively and those two were a big part of our clean sheet I thought.

"I felt we were going away from what has got us success just recently," he added. "We were overplaying and taking an extra pass when playing it down the sides and our delivery into the box has been a problem for any opposition we've played.

"We just lost our way in our shape and that happens at times. We changed it and I thought we started to trouble them a bit more, we put balls into the box, got down the sides and we had so many chances.

"They play a high line Wycombe and take a chance - if it works they keep the pressure on you which they did in the second half, but they are vulnerable and we should have capitalised with the many chances we had."

The manager admitted that the conditions were tough on the night, and was pleased to reward the supporters with a win.

"I thought it was a game that was a tricky one for us because I felt the crowd would probably for the first time this year be slightly expecting of us and wouldn't be patient.

"They've been brilliant for us the fans, and they're starting to expect us to win but we need that positive feel in the stadium even in these games, because they're not easy."

A trip to Walsall on Saturday is next up for Alan Pardew's side and the Londoner is hopeful of having one of his injury victims back for the match at the Bescot Stadium.

"We think David Connolly has got a chance for Saturday and I think tonight was the kind of game Connolly would have excelled in. His quality would have finished the game long before the whistle went so it would be nice to get him back.

"I think we've got a really difficult game against Walsall on Saturday and if we can get past them then I'll be really pleased."