Ronald Koeman said he was proud of his players as they battled to a 1-0 win at Hull but laughed off suggestions Saints could be genuine title contenders this season.

Saints left the pitch at the KC Stadium to chants of ‘we’re going to win the league,’ from their travelling fans.

After ten games of the season Saints sit second in the Premier League table behind Chelsea.

Koeman laughed off such heady predictions but after three wins in a week bagged six Premier League points and a place in the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup, he was adamant his team would continue to push on.

When asked about the title winning chant he smiled: “Maybe, maybe, always positive but that’s not what will happen.

“We continue winning, continue up in the table, why not? We have a good team organisation and I think we showed that again in the second half.

“After the first incredible 1-0 of Victor we were maybe a bit sloppy for 20-25 minutes. Hull controlled the game and dominated and didn’t create a lot of good chances, they didn’t create any chance in the second half.

“In the second half we played outstanding and we had to score the second goal maybe but the team performance was incredible in how we like to play in defence away and how we like to press the opponent.

“I am proud of the players because it was a tough week, three games in a row, physical ones for the two times against Stoke and a great win.”

He added: “That was a different win than for example against Sunderland at home That was mostly about good football, creating opportunities.

“These three wins in a row is not only on a football way but in a good organisation way and a spirit way and keep fighting until the last second and until the last second to act really as a team and that’s the most important what we did this week.”