SAINTS boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has vowed to tighten up his side’s defence during the club’s training camp in Tenerife.

Hasenhuttl was aghast at Saints’ inability to hold on to a point against Cardiff City after Jack Stephens’ injury-time equaliser.

Now he is aiming to improve his back line before Saints play their next game against Arsenal in two weeks’ time.

After the 2-1 defeat at home to Cardiff, he said: “For two weeks we have this result in our mind and that is the most horrible situation you can imagine.

“We must do everything to have clean sheets. I tell them every week. Because we can score and always have chances, we have the quality to win games.

“But it’s not possible if you always need two or three goals to win a game.

“That’s the focus on next week, I can guarantee you. I will also make a few changes to the defence, that’s for sure.

“I don’t want to make a drama but we have to be very, very honest. You can be sure that I will be very, very honest with my guys.

“Because otherwise I can’t look in the mirror and say I did everything to keep them in the Premier League. That would be very tough.”

Discussing the way Cardiff were allowed to score their winner, he continued: “This is the first match we have lost in 2019 but the way we lost it is the most horrible I think.

“It was stupid, absolutely stupid. I’ve never seen a goal conceded like this. It’s absolutely horrible.

"In that moment the only thing we had to do is clear the ball. We had three chances to clear the ball and we didn’t. It was absolutely too easy.

“We wanted to win the game but you have to stay focused and think about what you’re doing.

“What we did after the equaliser is something we can’t do again, otherwise it will be very difficult.”