Eljero Elia believes Southampton must beat West Bromwich Albion this weekend to revive their bid for a top-four finish.
Saints were beaten 2-0 at home by Liverpool last time out in the Premier League as they dropped out of the Champions League places for the first time since December.
They have won just one of their last five league and cup games and on Saturday face a Baggies side who are unbeaten in four with three clean sheets in a row.
Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are close behind Saints in the table and Elia wants three points against in-form West Brom to boost their chances of finishing in the top four.
“We have to win this game,” he said. “If we want to stay on the road for the Champions League, we have to win. I don’t care how we win, just as long as we do.”
Saints felt they were unlucky against Liverpool after dominating possession and having a number of penalty appeals turned down.
It leaves Elia confident their recent struggles are just a blip and that they can get their season back on track.
“Every game I play for Southampton now, we have 80 per cent of the ball and are the better team,” he said. “We create chances to score every game, so it will change.
“I always say when you score one goal, then the second will come too.”
Southampton can be backed at 2.28 to return to winning ways this weekend, while West Brom are priced at 3.31 and a draw is 3.04.
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