Saints boss Ronald Koeman defended his decision to start with three centre halves in the 1-0 loss to West Brom.

Koeman’s formation switch had worked well earlier in the season but was not effective this time round.

Saints conceded a goal early in the game and after they failed to make any impression going forward he took off Florin Gardos and reverted to their regular formation after 24 minutes.

Koeman was adamant he would do the same again.

He said: “No. If I have to do the line-up again I would do the same.

“We played I think this season two or three times out of this system.

“We won every game and the players know the system.

“We have players to do and to play out of this system but after the 1-0 down every time we had three defenders against one attacker and that was the decision what I made to change because 1-0 down makes a different game.”

Defeat at The Hawthorns made it five games without a goal for Saints and just one win in their last six matches.

It is a wobble at just the wrong time of the season.

“OK, we have to accept it and keep going,” reflected Koeman.

“We know every game is a difficult one because very team is fighting for the position and for points and for winning and we understand that.

“The problem is to play like them you go so fast in the game down it’s more difficult because they like to play like this. It’s not my way of playing but they deserve and have good organisation and it’s good for them.”

Much has been made of the lack of a winter break for some of the squad’s newer players but Koeman was asked after the game whether it is something which he is having to adapt to as well.

“I think you have to get used to a Premier League season,” he admitted.

“You are used to always have a break during the winter then you don’t have a break then maybe there will come a moment you are not so sharp as before. That’s normal, you have to get used to that.

“It’s the same for the manager.”