RALPH Hasenhuttl admitted his frustration in seeing Saints “not further in our development for a longer term” and added: “If you want to win games, we have to do a better job.”

The St Mary’s side’s promising opening to the Premier League campaign has been halted by a run of eight losses in nine top-flight games.

That sequence has seen Saints having to look over their shoulder at steering clear of the bottom three in the table. They are seven points better off than 18th-placed Fulham.

Hasenhuttl sends his side to rock-bottom Sheffield United tomorrow (3pm), looking to allay any fears of being dragged into the relegation mire.

The Austrian boss has been involved in relegation tussles previously in his career. He guided Aalen to safety in the German third division, having taken over in January 2011.

He also saved Bundesliga 2 outfit Ingolstadt from the drop, having joined them in 2013.

Asked about his experiences of relegation battles previously in his career, the Saints boss said: “Sure, I have had a few experiences in a relegation battle.

“Most of the time it was in the beginning of my time when I was working with a club, not after two years, to be honest.

“That we are still now not further in our development for a longer term is frustrating for me, definitely.

“It didn’t look this season that we would come in the situation where we had 30 points and had to look behind us, but it is always like this when you are not consistently taking points.

“No matter where you are, clubs will go over you and you have to pay attention, but as I said, I don’t see our game so weak on all parts.

“We have definitely our qualities, but we are also clear that if you want to win games we have to do a better job at the moment – this is the job for the weekend again.”

Victory would give the St Mary’s outfit their ninth league success of the campaign.