Mark Hughes is challenging his Southampton players to put together a complete performance when they host Leicester City in the Premier League this weekend.
The Saints manager has been pleased with what his side have produced in patches during their opening two fixtures of the season – a home draw with Burnley and last Saturday's narrow defeat at Everton – but now wants to see them maintain their levels for a longer period of time.
mark hughes
we've shown good intent and good ability, but we need to bring it all together now.
southampton manager
"We reviewed the game against Everton and there were a few elements of our play that clearly we need to be better at," said Hughes.
"We made a couple of lapses that we need to avoid, in terms of the goals we conceded, but there were good elements to our play in certain periods. Maybe not on a consistent level for long enough, and we need to make sure we're pulling together a 90-minute performance from now on in.
"We've shown good intent and good ability in certain periods of games, but we need to bring it all together now."
Saints will be in no doubt about the danger Saturday's opponents possess, following Leicester's 4-1 win at St Mary's last season, and Hughes explained they will need to be wary of their threat on the counter, even without the influence of suspended striker Jamie Vardy.
"They're arguably one of the better teams away from home, because of the way they play – a counter-attack style – and the success they've had in recent years as a consequence of playing that way," said the Saints boss.
"Obviously, they've had different managers, and Claude will have his take on how he wants them to set-up, but fundamentally they're a side that have got good pace and power in all areas, and away from home arguable are more effective than at times they are at home."
Share this: