RALPH Hasenhuttl admitted his side can’t continue missing golden opportunities.

Saints should have put Newcastle to the sword at St James’ Park, only for all of the chances to go begging.

Nathan Redmond missed a sitter in the first half, with Ryan Bertrand also failing to score from close range.

Saints’ boss said: “I think this is the next step we have to go in such tight games. We have to be more clinical in those moments.

“It was our third game in a week where we were investing a lot, it’s normal that our concentration wasn’t the highest after such moments.

“But in that moment, you must know that this can decide the game.

“When you are 1-0 up, then you must take something here.”

Newcastle spent large parts of the tie under pressure but took full advantage of their chances.

Jonjo Shelvey was allowed to head home from inside the box, despite there being a handful of Saints players in the area.

And then Alex McCarthy fumbled a shot which was leapt on by Federico Fernandez.

In spite of this, Hasenhuttl felt his defence played well.

“I think they didn’t have a lot of chances but scored twice,” claimed the Austrian.

“Both goals we can defend because the first one is a cross where we had a lot of players in the centre.

“The second one is a pity because I think Alex [McCarthy] can clear the ball further. We must follow them to the goal, it’s a pity.

“I haven’t seen a lot of chances for Newcastle, but we had a lot. In the end, it was a good away game but sometimes football is not so fair.”

Having already dropped Angus Gunn for McCarthy, there is little else Hasenhuttl can do with the goalkeeping situation.

His side have failed to keep a clean sheet in 11 games, conceding 29 goals along the way.

When asked about this, he responded: “This is something, a problem, we have had for a long time.

“I think the general defending was good because it’s not always that shot ends in a goal, but it was like this twice.”