Mark Hughes says he has been ‘reassured’ that Saints will start winning games soon and doesn’t feel like the team are just going to ‘slog their way through the season.’

The Saints boss has seen his side pick up just one victory in 12 Premier League games so far this season and has much to ponder during the final international break of this year.

Waiting on the other side is a massive game away to bottom of the table Fulham.

Hughes insists that Saints have created plenty of chances this season, but their failure to take all but eight of them has cost them.

He said: “We have done in a lot of the games.

“Even against Man City we got beat 6-1 but we created more chances against Man City than any other team this season apparently.

“Even against top quality opposition we will always create chances and that’s a good thing and a reassuring thing.

“If we weren’t creating anything and were just trying to slog our way through this season we would be more worried than we are.

“We are capable of winning games in this league and everybody who has seen us play this season will attest to that.”

The draw against Watford was a controversial affair thanks to Charlie Austin’s goal being disallowed for offside against Maya Yoshida.

Hughes has been a public advocate for VAR for some time, and this has strengthened his belief.

“Without a shadow of a doubt it needs to come in,” he said.

“I was surprised they didn’t introduce it at the beginning of this year.

“A lot of other competitions have introduced it very quickly, all the major sports, and for some reason the Premier League which is watched all around the world is still in the darker ages.”

Watford also could have had a penalty, but the eventual result failed to lift any of the gloom at St Mary’s.

“Maybe that backs up my argument because they should have got the penalty decision,” confessed Hughes.

“I will argue as I would do that Ryan got a little bit of the ball but clearly the guy has been taken out as well and that’s a match defining moment.

“There is still time for us to win the game at that point.

“I just think at 2-0 we have had key moments and key decisions that have gone against us in match winning positions here.

“Our home form has been a struggle not only in my time here but in previous times as well and we’ve had a situation with a last minute penalty given against us against Brighton which in my view shouldn’t have been given.

“Once again a match defining moment and a decision that in my view the officials have got wrong.

“I am not questioning their integrity or their thinking behind what they are seeing.

“Clearly he thought he saw Maya Yoshida head the ball in which begs the question if that’s what he’s thinking he shouldn’t be at this level.”