Ronald Koeman has admitted Saints are lacking belief despite being within touching distance of a sixth place top flight finish.

Defeat at Leicester continued a poor run of form which has seen Saints take one point from their last six away games, and pick up just four wins in 15 in all competitions.

It seems strange things have changed so quickly and Koeman is at a loss to put his finger on exactly why his team have produced performances like they have in past couple of weeks.

“It’s difficult to explain,” he said.

“I think if you compare both teams today it’s that Leicester is full of confidence, fighting against something, about relegation, fighting for life. It makes them difficult to beat.

“We don’t have that belief in ourselves at the moment.

“Struggling in our ball possession, too much doubting, doubts about ourselves, about the team. It’s strange but it’s football.

“It’s sometimes difficult to explain.”

Saints are still only one point behind Tottenham in sixth and with two games to go have a chance of pipping Mauricio Pochettino to guaranteed European qualification.

“We know everybody but also before the game the lads showed good spirit, together, but you have to show it on the pitch,” said Koeman.

“After the fast 1-0 it makes it more difficult.”

There was an expectation that Saints would fire back to form following a disappointing performance at Sunderland but that certainly didn’t happen as they struggled again at Leicester, with a poor first half costing them any chance of getting anything from the game.

“Yes, you expect a reaction of the team after last week and again problems in the beginning of the game,” admitted Koeman.

“We lacked some sharpness, strange after last week, and, ok, you see Leicester plays full of confidence, aggressive and two chances, two goals, and that makes it more difficult.

“That’s the reason why we lost. It’s all about sharpness to start the game.

“After the 2-0 we tried, we play, but we didn’t create a lot about all our ball possession.

“We did some changes in the second half, play a little bit different with three at the back, but they are defending well, good organisation, strong physically and a difficult afternoon.”

Koeman backed Leicester and former Saints boss Nigel Pearson to stay in the league following their victory.

“I think they have a good chance to stay in the Premier League but it’s difficult because all the bottom teams close to them have good results and winning games in the last few weeks,” said Koeman.

“They showed good quality, good organisation and unbelievable spirit and that makes them difficult to beat.”