Ronald Koeman has defended Graziano Pelle insisting the whole Saints team must shoulder the burden for scoring goals.

The Italian striker hit a rich vein of form after arriving at the club but has now failed to score in his last five games.

Though Pelle has missed one or two opportunities, it is also fair to say the chances are not flowing as they were earlier in the campaign.

As the club’s star striker the focus for a lack of goals has fallen on Pelle rather than his teammates, but Koeman feels it is the whole side who must shoulder the burden too, as well as receive the praise for their excellent defensive record.

He said: “It is a little bit like the whole team because we are defending with the whole team and we have to attack and build up with the whole team.

“A little bit the influence of changing so much in the last few games in midfield we play a long time with really always the same ten or 11 players and maybe that’s one of the reasons.

“Opponents, strong defenders and a little bit what I said before, our way of attacking, it’s more difficult.

“That’s always difficult for the striker then because you need crosses, you need help.

“He’s not a striker who dribbles like Aguero and can do it by himself. He needs support.

“Maybe in that way is a little bit less than the beginning of the season.”

Saints have failed to score in their last two games, in which they have lost to Manchester City and Arsenal, and are now gearing up for the visit of Manchester United to St Mary’s on Monday night.

“I think our opponents are analysing our attacking players and maybe they have a better defending against for example Graziano. It can be,” reflected Koeman.

“We by ourselves in the last few games have had more problems to create opportunities.

“That’s both reasons why Pelle is not scoring in the last few games but the same questions in the beginning of the season and after that he scored.

“It’s a little bit the job for the striker sometimes, you need a goal to be back where you was.

“I have total confidence in the players but it’s about the team performance and it’s more important to create and do what we have to do in an attacking way.”

As well as Pelle, the goals and assists have also dried up from midfield.

Koeman sympathises with the problems his players have had, with a raft of injuries not helping things.

“We spoke several times about our midfield players scoring in some games and assists of Dusan (Tadic) like the Sunderland day but we have to realise that they make three own goals. It was not eight goals by our qualities” he admitted.

“It’s a little bit more difficult now, I understand.

“But it’s football and maybe a little bit physical problems, not really 100 per cent and you know to bring your level you have to be 100 per cent in the physical way.”