WESLEY Hoedt conceded “we are in danger” after Saints slipped closer to the Premier League’s relegation zone with a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea.

Mauricio Pellegrino’s struggling side have now won just once in nine games and are just three points off the bottom three.

Hoedt said: “For sure, we are in danger. We have to stick together and, as fast as possible, we have to pick up some points because I think we have a really good squad.

“It’s easy to say but we have to start playing better and we’ve played 18 games already, so we cannot hide behind that anymore.

“For sure, we have to be really troubled and be as focused as possible to take points as quickly as possible.”

Marcos Alonso’s goal from a free-kick on the cusp of half-time consigned Saints to defeat at Stamford Bridge.

The 23-year-old centre-back says it was a “really stupid goal” to concede, having worked hard to keep the score goalless up until that point.

He said: “We started really good and played some good football. We were controlling the game. After that they took over but we played a good match in the first half and we took a really stupid goal. It cannot happen to us anymore.

“In second half it was a completely different game. They had all the spaces and we were just trying to stop them and, at that moment, we had two really good chances and could have equalised.

“It could have changed the game but in the end we could have done a little bit better to at least take a point.”

He continued: “We cannot concede these kind of goals anymore, so it’s something we have to sort out really fast. We have to change that kind of thing.

“It was really difficult in the second half because the space was really big.”

Saints started the second-half slowly but grew in confidence and nearly levelled when a couple of chances dropped to substitute Charlie Austin.

“In the last ten minutes we played with four at the back and we were a little bit more aggressive and could have done a little bit better,” the Netherlands international added.

“We were at least aggressive, but in these games you only get one or two good chances and we had them but unfortunately we didn’t score.

“We played well the first half, so the system worked – because we took that goal we had to change a little bit and that’s why the spaces were so big.”

Hoedt, a £15m summer signing from Lazio, has played nine of Saints’ 18 Premier League games so far.

The former AZ Alkmaar man admits he came to St Mary's to be a starting player, but understands his position.

“That’s why I came [to start] but I cannot change this,” he said. “I can only do my best, play good games and that’s it.

“I have to improve, everybody has to improve. I’m the first one to look in the mirror and say I have to do more, but I want to play every game.”

He continued: “I’ve played some good games. Everybody wants to play and that includes me but you have to be self critical and if I want to play and the coach doesn’t put me in, I have to do more.”

Pellegrino denied in his press conference before the Chelsea trip that their had been a fall-out with Hoedt after he was omitted from the squad in the Leicester game.

When asked about this matter, Hoedt said: “I have nothing to say about that. The coach explained what happened and that’s closed with it.”

He now wants Saints to step up and fight.

“The only thing the players who are here now can do is fight for this club and give it our all,” he said.