RONALD Koeman admits that it has been difficult to manage the expectations at Saints this season after the precedent his side set last term.

Koeman led Saints to a record breaking seventh place last term in the Premier League and is aware – especially during this barren run of six games without a victory – that expectation is weighing heavy around Saints’ necks.

“I was expecting. Honestly, I was expecting a difficult season. Because expectations higher than normal. Higher than what is normal for Southampton,” he said after Saints’ 2-0 defeat to Tottenham.

He added: “The second season is always difficult for players, difficult for a team who did more than everybody expect because then you have the total confidence in winning game and playing your football. Opponents are afraid.

“Opponents at the moment aren’t afraid of Southampton. You have to change your attitude because it’s a new situation.

“You have to work harder – you have to be more aggressive because that can make change and not something.”

Saints have played well in fits and starts of late and have had a tough festive period so far.

It has come in similar fashion to a five game losing streak at the same time last year in Koeman’s first campaign at the helm.

Koeman, however, added that comparing this term to last is hard because of certain circumstances and that their battle to turn their poor form around may call for a change in Saints’ style.

“It’s difficult to compare this season with last season because some players left, left some good players,” he said.

“We start the season with a lot of new players and still I believe in the quality of the players, but maybe we need to win this battle, maybe we need a different type of football.

“Maybe not about philosophy and that’s the question to myself that we need player from now who first are winning the battle on the pitch and then playing nice football.”