SHANE Long is rueing the fact that Saints have to rely on teams above them slipping up to qualify for the Europa League.

The industrious striker laments that Ronald Koeman’s side “should have taken it in our own hands” when they had the chance.

With four games to go Saints are one place off a potential European finish in the Premier League, but will need the teams above them to drop points if they are to achieve their aims.

Long is frustrated that the eighth-placed outfit are not in the driving seat for qualification.

The 29-year-old blames dropping numerous points from winnable positions as a huge factor in their current situation.

“We’re a good enough team to be there (in Europe),” the Irishman said.

“We’ve let a few points slip away this season. That’s the frustrating thing about it, there are a lot of games that we look back on where we should have got the three points and come away with one point or lost by a goal.

“It’s always something we can better next season, but we’ve got four games left to put it right this season.”

Liverpool, following their midweek derby thrashing of Everton, have now opened up a three point gap on Saints - and they still have a game in hand.

West Ham and Manchester United - who also both won at home on Wednesday - are five and eight points ahead respectively going into this weekend’s fixtures.

Saints will almost certainly need to win all four of their remaining games to stand any chances of sneaking into the Europa League for a second successive campaign.

“We didn’t really want to get ourselves in a position where we have to rely on other results to go our way,” Long said. “We should have taken it in our own hands.

“But there are four games left, 12 points up for grabs and they could be massive come the end of the season.”

Long, who has netted eight times in the Premier League this season, knows that today’s match against already-relegated Aston Villa is massive to keep their season alive.

Although the former West Bromwich Albion frontman, who has netted five in his last six appearances against Villa, warns against disregarding the demoted side as an easy target after a miserable campaign, which has seen them triumph just three times.

“It’s a big game for us,” he said. “If we get the win there and other results go our way, we’re right back in with a shout again.

“We know if we turn up and play our football that we will come out on top, but it’s a hard game for us because everyone expects us to win and everyone expects them to lose.

“We don’t know what atmosphere to expect so we just need to concentrate on ourselves and how we approach the game.”

“We still have a lot to play for,” added Long. “We’ve got a lot of professionals in the squad that want to be better last season and to push for that European place.”