Ronald Koeman has targeted at least four points from Saints’ upcoming two away games in a bid to keep their hopes of European qualification alive and kicking.

Victory over Newcastle moved Saints to within two points of sixth placed West Ham and a guaranteed European spot, with the Hammers having a game in hand.

Saints have been in fine form at St Mary’s but Koeman is more concerned about their away displays, with two defeats in the last three on the road.

They now face back-to-back trips to Everton and Aston Villa, with Koeman well aware they could determine whether his team qualify for Europe.

He said: “It’s difficult because it’s very unpredictable, the whole Premier League.

“I’m not worried when we play at home because we are a team at home that create always opportunities to score.

“I’m more worried about the away games and we get two away now – Everton first and then Aston Villa.

“To keep the pressure to the team above us on the table we need at least four points out of the two.

“We have to improve and we have to keep our home level and that we need to show in the two away games.”

Saints are likely to change their tactics for Everton having been very attacking against Newcastle.

Koeman was asked whether he would try that way of playing again and smiled: “You try it because that is really important if you don’t give your opponent that feeling to have the ball, to dominate, to control the game and that really they have to run behind you.

“That’s what we like every game but it’s about the opponents, their strengths, their qualities.

“That was why I was disappointed out of last week (against Leicester) because we had a sloppy start in the game and then it’s always difficult to get your level back in the game because a good start means a lot to everybody about sharpness, about spirit, about belief, about concentration.

“Today it was in my opinion one of the best games how we start.”

He added: “It’s a very offensive way of playing and you need really that responsibly of the strikers to keep the team compact and do your job in defending in pressing.

“If not it’s four defenders, two midfielders and four strikers and I don’t like that.

“I try to explain to Sadio and to Dusan, play more inside, play more a midfielder, and you create space by yourself. That was in the first half good and we create a lot of problems to them.”