Southampton have jetted off to Switzerland for a break ahead of what James Ward-Prowse believes are the 10 biggest matches in the club's history.

Saints' late, and somewhat fortuitous, victory against Crystal Palace on Tuesday evening got them back to winning way after their remarkable season started to go off kilter.

The latest in a line of disjointed displays looked set to cost Ronald Koeman's men, only for Sadio Mane to strike late on to secure a 1-0 win which moved them back to within a point of the top-four.

It means Champions League qualification remains a realistic - and scarcely-believable - prospect for Saints, whose players flew to Switzerland on Wednesday for a break ahead of what Ward-Prowse knows is a crunch period.

"I think it will be great to just have a good time, the pressure of the Premier League is massive, especially where we are in the table," the midfielder said.

"It's good to get away, put our feet up and have a bit of a laugh with the group. It should be a good bit of fun and then we'll move on from there

"These next 10 games are probably the biggest in the club's history and we're determined as a group of players to make history for the club.

"We want to get us to the biggest stage in the world where we feel we belong with the best teams and best players in the world."

Post by James Ward-Prowse.

Next up for Southampton is the unenviable task of a trip to Chelsea on March 15 - a match Ward-Prowse will hope to be starting after his telling impact against Palace.

The England Under-21 midfielder was brought on in a bid to inject some fresh impetus into Saints' toiling attack and had the desired impact, producing the shot which led to Mane clipping home.

"We reflected on the win in the changing room and we believe it's going to be a pivotal three points come the end of the season," Ward-Prowse told Southampton's official YouTube channel

"We haven't been on the best of runs lately and it's great to obviously get the three points and move forward. You could feel the whole stadium was pleased.

"It wasn't a pretty performance, not a vintage Southampton display, but we dug deep, the fans got behind us and I think we showed great character."