Sunday 17 April 2016 15:29, UK
Southampton's Premier League campaign will be defined by their efforts at Aston Villa next weekend, according to manager Ronald Koeman.
A 1-1 draw at Everton in a match they dominated was not the result they wanted on Saturday as they chase European football.
It meant they lost ground on fifth-placed Manchester United and despite three wins and a draw in their last five matches Koeman has demanded more to prevent the campaign fizzling out.
"I think from the game on Saturday and the next game we need at least four points and so next week is crucial," said Koeman.
"If not then we play the last three to finish the season. We have to win for the fans but not fighting for European football."
Southampton are not the same team on the road as they are at home and Koeman puts that down to one factor - a lack of goals.
It was evident at Goodison Park, where they dominated, hit the woodwork three times through Dusan Tadic (twice) and Shane Long but managed to get just four of their 18 attempts on target.
"One of the reasons is that we have scored 14 away goals, 31 at home. That difference is too big," added Koeman.
"We need to improve in that aspect. Team organisation is very good, we don't concede a lot of goals but we need to score more goals away from home.
"I don't know why, maybe we are too much reserved but not yesterday because we had Sadio Mane, Tadic, Long and Graziano Pelle - all strikers - and we can't play more offensively.
"They have to make the difference, it is the responsibility of the strikers and we have to make the difference in that aspect."
