Ronald Koeman admitted the importance to his team of their record breaking start to the season after they secured another away day victory.

A 1-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light made it six straight games without defeat for Saints on the road since the start of this campaign.

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Koeman confessed that the record is a key motivator for the team at this point of time.

He said: “It’s important. Important for the confidence, important for the way how we like to play.

“We don’t play different to how we do, or like to do, away. That’s the best way to be consistent.

“Ok, we get the chance to have a lot of ball possession from the start in the game and then it’s to be patient.

“You can compare this game to the West Brom game away and it’s not easy to create but I think the level in front was higher and that makes the points.”

Koeman was happy with the display from his team, and that they converted the performance into a victory.

“I think the performance today was very consistent, very with good concentration until the last second,” reflected Koeman.

“It’s always difficult because Sunderland had a good defensive organisation it is difficult to break down and it is maybe more difficult to be patient and to keep the defensive organisation by counter attacks.

“I think it was the best game how we did pressing after losing the ball.

“We had good reaction in the team and that makes it very difficult for them to play out of the defenders and that was good.”

He added: “It’s not always about to have a lot of ball possession, but if you have the ball, they can’t score and if you are creating then you have more chances to win the game.”