SAINTS B team manager David Horseman wants the club’s youngsters to step up in wake of a late 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough, insisting: “We do so many good things and then we actually throw the game away.”

The young Saints are yet to win a game after three fixtures in the Premier League 2 Division Two, which they were relegated into for the 2021-22 season.

With only one point in three, the most recent defeat came despite equalising with just minutes to spare – Dare Olufunwa then seeing a red card and a penalty given against him up the other end with seconds to go.

Now Saints B face their toughest test of the season so far, when they travel to Division One high-flyers Arsenal in the first game of the Premier League Cup Group A on Thursday.

But Horseman needs something to change, admitting he’s already getting tired of the same mistakes, and told the club website: “I think it’s more difficult for the staff than the players, because, if I’m being honest, I stand in front of this camera every week and almost say the same thing.

“We do so many good things, and I’m talking about as a team here, not necessarily individuals, and then we actually throw the game away.

“We dominate for huge periods of the game, we create good chances but don’t take them. They have two or three meaningful shots in the game, and one’s a penalty.

“For the staff, the game plan worked – we got into good areas, we caused them loads of problems, but in the critical moments, when people are paid the most money to deliver, we’re not delivering as a team.

“We’ve got loads of good players, there were loads of excellent bits today, but I think they need to look at themselves a little bit now, because they’re in the men’s environment and they need to stand up and take some responsibility.

“It has to be better – you can’t play that well and come away without anything.”