RALPH Hasenhuttl has set his Saints the target of improving their consistency ahead of next season.

The club's poor start to the current campaign made it increasingly difficult for them to finish in the top half of the table.

But their run of results, especially from November onwards, has propelled them into 12th.

“The motivation is not a problem for us," said Hasenhuttl.

“We had such an unsuccessful time this season and if we had had a little bit better September, October, November we could have much more points in the end and could be much higher in the table.

“We need a whole season consistently at a higher level. This is what we are working for.

“To prepare it now at the end of the season gives us a good step and a new one because the new one is coming and it is coming very soon.

“We don’t have a lot of time to prepare for the new season. We must keep this level high and have a better start than this time.”

Hasenhuttl also said that it's inevitable some players thrive under his management and others struggle.

The Austrian went three games without changing his starting XI which suggests he's found his strongest starting XI.

He added: “It’s always like this. Not every player can offer us what we need in our shape.

“Sooner or later, I think he cannot make the step through. But everybody has the chance to work on it. No player can say that he didn’t get a chance to show up.

“These chances were there and in the end, the guys who do best get the chance to play."