Southampton manager Russell Martin has challenged his players to use the club’s early-season frustrations to push for a promotion up the table.
The winless Saints travel to nearby Bournemouth after picking up just one point from five games since promotion.
Overall, Martin has been encouraged by the performances and feels the team’s efforts have deserved greater reward.
“We should have more points, we should be higher in the table,” he said.
“It frustrates me a lot, but it tells us that we’re really not very far away.” If we keep doing the right things with the right intention, eventually those things will level out and become a reality.
Russell Martin insisted Southampton have to build on their early season struggles to boost them going forward.
His team has only achieved one point out of a possible 15 since returning to the top flight.
‘Either you choose to suffer the pain or you choose to grow through it and choose to use it as fuel. I always know what my choice is.
“We will improve and finish with the points we think we deserve.”