Mark Hughes admitted that the pressure is on him and his team to finally end their woeful St Mary’s record after they were booed off.

A goalless draw at home to Newcastle, who came into the game bottom of the Premier League table, made it just one win in 16 top flight matches at St Mary’s.

The blank up front also made it the first time since 2001 that Saints have failed to score in five successive Premier League games At the full time whistle the fans voiced their frustrations.

Hughes said: “That’s what it was borne out of, it wasn’t the performance today but that we haven’t won a game at home for a long time.

“Clearly people are going to be more frustrated but I don’t think it was directed at the players for their efforts because we were the team trying to win the game.

“It is going to be there until we get rid of it and the only people who can get it rid of it are the group that we have.

“If we continue to work as hard as we are doing and continue to have a platform in our defensive work then confidence ahead of the back four will enable us to convert chances I’m sure.

“We have just got to get on with it and make sure it happens.”

Much of the focus on the lack of goals is on the strikers, with first choice duo Charlie Austin and Danny Ings struggling to score.

“They worked hard but it didn’t quite happen for them,” reflected Hughes.

“We have got to find a way to get better service to them and for them to create moments for themselves as well as bring other people into the game.

“They have known each other for a long time and played together at previous clubs so that relationship is there and it’s whether or not we can bring it to the fore or whether I feel a different combination would serve us better.

“I can’t fault their effort. I thought they kept at it and understood what was needed from them but sometimes you’ve got to mix it up a bit and that’s why we made the changes we did.”