Saints will continue to look to field flexible teams despite the defeat to Bournemouth.

Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said that on reviewing the 3-1 defeat to the Cherries the first half performance was much better than he had thought, even though numerous changes to the defensive system and personnel did seem to unsettle the side.

He said: “We analysed this game and saw that we didn’t play such a bad game and also in the first half where I think after the game it seemed not very good but was better than I thought at the first moment.

“Finally, the opponent has three penalty area entries and we had 16 and they scored three times and we one time and that was the big difference.

“Second half we played a very good game but finally didn’t get something for it and this is football.

“Against Sheffield we had much more chances for the opponent and won there and this time we had much more than the opponent and lost.

“We are not happy about this game. It was a big chance to take a big step and we didn’t take it.”

Hasenhuttl added: “When you look at us and how we were successful the last four games before this game against Bournemouth you see we were very flexible. That maybe brought us a few big wins in this moment.

“We were hard to read and see what we want to do and it was successful.

“At the moment it wasn’t successful it’s always about thinking was it too much or not but finally I think our flexibility is the biggest strength we have.

“It doesn’t mean we change just to change something so you can be sure if we do change something it isn’t the first time the player is playing on this position because we train the whole week there, we try to prepare him with videos and the stuff he needs to know what he has to do in this position.

“This is something of a big strength we have in our team. We are very flexible but sure in the end it is about being successfully and the change we take at half time against Bournemouth was the right one. The shape was perfect and fits good in the second half and gives us nearly the chance to come back and turn the table.”