The Saints came in to the 1990 – 1991 campaign with a fairly strong side and had Matthew le Tissier at their disposal who was emerging as one of the finest player in England. However for much of the early 1990’s the Saints struggled for league form. They finished the 1990 – 1991 season in a respectable 14th position and reached the quarter finals of the league cup, suffering a 3-2 defeat against eventual finalists Manchester unite din the last eight. However the saints failed to find form during the following three seasons in the top flight. A 16th position finish at the end of the 1991 – 1992 season was not bettered in any way whatsoever by the end of the 1992 – 1993 premiership season as they were involved in a relegation battle that saw them avoid the drop, finishing off in 18th place, many blaming the departure of Alan Shearer as a factor in their down turn.
The 1993 – 1994 campaign saw the Saints once again struggle for form and only managed a repeat of the previous year, an 18th place finish to ensure their premier league status. After reaching the quarter finals of the 1992 FA cup, suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat against Norwich City, the Saints failed to surge past the third round of either the league cup or FA cup during the following two season as the club were looking to strengthen in time for the 1994 – 1995 league campaign.