CHE Adams says that Saints need to remain "brave" and "positive" after falling to a third straight defeat against Ipswich Town on Tuesday evening.

Omari Hutchinson's goal midway through the first half was enough for the newly promoted side to leave St Mary's with a 1-0 win.

Saints did have chances to equalise, Adams himself seeing a close-range effort saved by Vaclav Hladky, but lacked the clinical edge needed.

Speaking to Southampton's club media after the game, the Scotland international insisted that they need to remain positive as they look to end their poor run of form.

“It’s tough to take. (We conceded) another sloppy goal from a mistake, but I think we need to stay positive.

“We dominated the game throughout but they outscored us in the end. 

"It’s a long, long season and we’ve just got to keep going. Keep being brave on the ball which, when they got the goal, we just came off a little bit and didn’t show for the ball as much.

"We just let them sit in and counter us and it just wasn’t good enough.

"That’s what the gaffer demands (staying brave). That’s what makes a better team and a good team, when we’re brave.

"We’re always going to make mistakes, that’s part and parcel of football, it’s about how we react. That’s what the manager wants, for us to be brave and want the ball.

"When we go 1-0 down it makes it hard for us and easier for them.

"As I said I think we dominated the game, I had a chance I should’ve scored. On another day it goes in, but it wasn’t to be tonight."

Up next for Russell Martin's side is a Middlesbrough side who sit bottom of the Championship table without a single win.

Looking ahead to Saturday Adams insisted that Saints need to cut out their errors in order to bounce back with an important victory.

"They are a team that’s struggling and we’re in a bad patch at the moment.

"We just need to come out of it and snap out of it, show how brave we are and how good we are as people and players.

"Like the other two results, it’s just not been good enough, so it’s about eradicating the errors and going again on Saturday."