Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has admitted that his side are suffering from a lack of confidence following their recent slump in form.
The Saints suffered a 1-0 reverse at the hands of Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday to fall to their fourth successive Premier League defeat.
Having dropped two points adrift of West Ham United in fourth place, Koeman says that Southampton must return to taking their chances in front of goal, such as the penalty which was squandered by Dusan Tadic yesterday afternoon.
"Not winning means there are some confidence issues with the players," the Dutchman is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News. "That's the reason why we are showing less quality in an attacking way, less sharpness in the box, missing chances and missing a penalty.
"And in the defence, we're normally strong but today they punished one mistake from the throw in and that's difficult to accept."
The South Coast club turn their attention to League Cup action in midweek with a trip to Sheffield United in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Daniel Lewis
