Claude Puel has called on his Saints side to find greater consistency in the Premier League after a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace made it just one win in their last six top flight matches.

Saints have particularly struggled away from home this season with just one away league win, and two victories on the road from 11 in all competitions.

Defeat to a Palace side whose manager Alan Pardew appeared to be on the verge after six defeats in a row coming into the game was particularly frustrating given Saints contributed so heavily to their downfall.

“I think it is important of course to correct this (away form) but for example we win three days ago at Arsenal 2-0 in the Cup. It’s not all the time a bad game,” insisted Puel.

“I think against Hull City is another bad game for us and for me it’s the same with a lack of concentration on a free kick and with goals without chances for the opponent, This is a lack of concentration and it’s important to correct this for the next games.”

He added: “I think it’s important to have more concentration in the Premier League.

“We have the opportunity to see the first part of the table and we make this. It was the same thing for the game against Hull City.

“We had the control of the ball against Hull City with good football and we took two goals in two minutes with a lack of concentration.

“I think it is a little the same today and it is important to correct this because we cannot take these goals on free kicks, on second balls, because all this puts all the good work on the ground.

“It is difficult to accept this.”

Saints were especially poor against Palace and Puel reflected: “I think it’s a disappointment of course.

“We didn’t play a good first half and we wanted a good start with good pressing and especially without a good play on the goal.

“I think it was important against this team to present long balls and to put the ball on the ground and to play.

“It was not this in the first half and we conceded goals and without chances against us on the play.

“It is difficult to consider this because I think Crystal Palace had mistakes from us.

“From the first goal it happens. For me it’s the bad pitch and it was difficult to play on the second half for example against a team with two goals up and it was difficult to find a good solution and to put a good play on this pitch.

“We tried and had chances without luck to score and to come back on this game.

“It’s hard to take three goals without conceding any chances on the play.

“It was true and it was not sufficient for us on the play and we tried to come back with good intention in the second half but it was not sufficient in the first.”