RALPH Hasenhuttl admitted “the benefit is not there yet” for the time he and his coaches have spent working on set-pieces.

Everton took advantage of Saints and their frailties in their eventual 2-1 victory at St Mary’s, Conor Coady scoring from a free-kick delivery to level.

Amadou Onana rose highest at the back-post to head across goal for the England defender to convert, just 90 seconds after Joe Aribo scored.

The Toffees winner also came from a cross, with Dwight McNeil unmarked and able to smash in beyond Gavin Bazunu from an acute angle.

Saints have had two coaches this season lead on set-pieces already, after Alex Clapham departed and Ruben Selles took over his responsibilities.

"You can imagine that we have spent a lot of time on this, this is for sure and we feel the benefit is not there yet,” Hasenhuttl insisted, speaking after the defeat.

“We also have the feeling that we are dangerous from set-pieces but in the moment we don’t score and this is hopefully coming."

Aston Villa’s winner in the 1-0 at Villa Park before the international break also came from a set-piece – Jacob Ramsey converting a rebound from corner kick.

Hasenhuttl has this season put an increased focus on the defensive side of the game, both in set-pieces and open play.

His coaching team had devised a new, more stable formation but changed back to his 4-2-2-2 in order to attempt to take the game to Everton in front of home support.

"The key was to change something generally because we have seen that we have been defensively stable and not so open,” he admitted.

“Without being in any danger when you are not high up the pitch attacking and that’s the reason why we changed it and tried to be higher up and it worked quite well because all the dangerous moments without the ball.

"This is our DNA, our identity, a little bit surprising maybe for the opponent that we do it today like this but then you have to take advantage what you have.

“When you are in and this is also something a part of your game what has to be better in the future because we are investing so much and the outcome is not enough."

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