BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted “the table doesn’t lie” after Saints’ disappointing second half to the season and added changes were needed “either with these players or with others”.

The Austrian manager saw his side suffer a 3-0 thumping at West Ham on the final day of the campaign at London Stadium.

After a promising start, a quickfire double from Spain international Pablo Fornals set Saints on the back foot. Declan Rice added another for the hosts late on.

Victory would have ensured a 12th-placed finish for the St Mary’s side. In contrast, they ended the season in 15th – conceding 68 goals in the process.

Only relegated West Brom shipped more than Saints across the league campaign.

Asked how much of a mental and financial blow it was for the club to miss out on 12th spot, Hasenhuttl replied: “When you see how far away we have been from winning on Sunday – even if they score the first goal - we had a way of defending them that was far away from deserving something.

“This is the reason why we don't have to speak about position 12.

"Last season, after the break, we had the quality to go up levels, this season, especially the second half, we haven't been good enough.

"This is the reason why we end up where we end up. The table doesn’t lie.”

Saints’ have picked up just 17 points from a possible 66 available during 2021, losing 15 of their 22 league contests.

The St Mary’s side had remarkably been top of the pile back in November, after beating Newcastle 2-0 at home.

"I think it is not so difficult to analyse this season, to be honest,” said Hasenhuttl.

“When you concede the second-most goals in the Premier League then we know very clear what is missing at the moment.

“When you see from what chances that they (West Ham) make goals against us, I mean, I have never seen us conceding so easily.

"But, okay, this is what we know, this is what we have to change. Either with these players or with others."