RALPH Hasenhuttl hailed Saints’ “perfect” performance against Aston Villa.

Goals from Shane Long and Stuart Armstrong guided the St Mary’s outfit to a 2-0 win against Dean Smith’s side.

It was a result that saw Saints open up a 10-point gap up over West Ham, who currently occupy the final relegation spot.

Hasenhuttl said: “It was very important to show a reaction after our last game and we started the day knowing we wanted to send a signal.

“We carried the game in their half and played the football that we play best, creating chances. I think we had 28 shots and that is something of a signal about how dominant we have been.

“It was a fantastic atmosphere and I must say the guys enjoyed it very much.

“I was critical last week and spoke about the importance of having a fortress here again and it was a very good reaction from everybody: the players, from us as a team but also from the crowd.

“You could immediately feel that they were supporting us and it was important for the young lad when he is coming in and making his debut in the Premier League.

“Maybe this also gives them a signal of our way after a young guy from the academy came in.

“It was a perfect afternoon.

“The only negative was that we had so many chances and only scored once and then right at the end of the game.

“But the way we scored the second one was, for everybody, a fantastic moment because the celebration was big.”