Claude Puel says he sympathises with Saints fans desperate for goals at St Mary’s and has urged his squad to shoot on sight in a bid to avoid an unwanted record.

The Saints boss needs his side to score four times in the final two matches of the campaign for the club to equal their lowest Premier League home goals haul in a season, which stands at 21.

Puel can point to statistics that show Saints have had more crosses in the box than any other Premier League team, and create a lot of chances, but converting them has been a major problem.

He hopes Saints fans understand the problem, but is also calling on his men to try and be more decisive in the final third.

He said: “The fans want goals. They want to see this, to have some goals, for their team to score.

“It is important to have the good possibilities and the good chances.

“The question of if we have the chances is yes.

“We have chances and the good opportunity to score, and I think against Arsenal we have more possibilities but Sanchez takes the ball and dribbles alone and makes the difference.

“Sometimes when we lost games against a great opponent we play Sanchez or Costa, these players do the difference on one action.

“I think we are not this player but we have a good collective and possibilities and to continue to improve.

“The last goal of Nathan Redmond against Middlesbrough was good because he works this often on the training session and it’s important he continues this quality and keeps trying to shoot with a good dribble and penetration.

“We cannot go quicker than possible. It is important to keep the good focus, intention, conviction, and just this.

“We have got to find the good reward about this.”

Puel added: “Any player can score in the team, on free kicks, to shoot outside the box.

“It’s important not just for the strikers or offensive players.

“I think some players have improved with this but it’s important to try more and to take the possibility to shoot.

“Often we can be in a good position and it’s important to try and to improve with the last cross, the last assist, with all this.

“It’s a young team I think and for the moment we have the opportunities and the chance and this is a good thing, but of course it’s not enough and we have to improve with this.”

Puel has suffered from the fact that Saints have been much better on the road than at St Mary’s this season, but the Frenchman isn’t feeling under extra strain because of it, even if he is keen to finish the season with two wins against Manchester United tonight and Stoke on Sunday.

“It’s not pressure for me. The fans want goals, results, maybe even top four on the table,” said Puel.

“For me it’s important to stick to clear ideas and just this and continue to improve.

“I think many good things this season. We can do better but many players have improved this season and it is good work.

“It’s important to continue this work and others things I cannot have an influence over.”