SAINTS defender Ryan Manning believes "everything came together" during their 3-0 thrashing of Preston North End on Tuesday evening. 

Southampton were rampant at St Mary's, putting Preston to the sword as they struck three goals in the opening 33 minutes before also hitting the post. 

The win meant Southampton completed a perfect week of games at St Mary's and Manning has called on them to keep building momentum. 

He told the Daily Echo: "I'm delighted. The result on the weekend was a result that we could build on. We took the momentum of the late winner and we applied it against Preston.

"We put in as good of a performance as we've had all season with dominating the ball, taking our chances and keeping a clean sheet.

"Everything came together. We have been there or thereabouts this season. The key thing was that we didn't come off it, we didn't give them a chance in the game.

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"We didn't let them back into it. The most pleasing part of the performance was that we sustained it for 90 minutes."

Manning returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Southampton's 4-2 win over Sunderland on May 9.

The Irish international was pleased with his performance having been left out of the squad against Coventry last week.

"I've missed out on the last few which has been frustrating but all you can do is knuckle down and graft to try and work your way back into it.

"If you get the opportunity, you have to try and take it. We'll see on Saturday what the gaffer's thinking but I'm pleased with my performance."

Tuesday evening's win has lifted Saints closer to the automatic spots ahead of their meeting with Leicester City next week.

Despite closing the gap, Manning is refusing to switch his attention to facing the Foxes until after Saints have visited Cardiff City on Saturday.

"Momentum is massive in football but I think you just have to look at every game as it comes," Manning continued.

"There's no point performing like we did tonight and not doing it again on Saturday. We have to back it up now. We have got four massive games that we have to do our best in.

"There's no point looking to the second last or the last game, we just have to take Saturday for what it is.

"At this stage of the season, you have to prepare for the best version of every team. It's probably our biggest game of the season on Saturday. That's the way we have to view it."