Ralph Hasenhuttl demands more in final third

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl says his side must improve in the final third if they are to get a result against Brighton.

The Saints, 5.25 to be relegated, have lost their first two games of the season and are 19th in the Premier League.

Hasenhuttl’s men did show signs of improvement at home to Liverpool as they lost 2-1, but fans are still reeling after their 3-1 opening-weekend defeat to Burnley. The Austrian says he was pleased with his team’s response and he believes they will come away with all three points if they show more confidence in the Brighton box.

He told the club’s official website: “It was important to see that we had a reaction after the Burnley game. That day was not good, and I think it was much better against Liverpool. But, even then, the chance was there to take something, and we didn’t, and that means we have no points so far.

“I don’t want to say this is more pressure, because we give ourselves the most pressure. We want to take points consistently, and so far we didn’t, and that means we want to go to Brighton and show again a reaction in a way that means we are also able to take points in an away game.

“After two games of not taking any points, it’s normal that they do it. The atmosphere is focused, and they try to work hard, but finally, we must show on the weekend that we are concentrated enough to have maybe a clean sheet and work 90 minutes to get a good result.”