RALPH Hasenhuttl insisted it could take as many as 40 points for Saints to secure Premier League safety this season and added: “There’s no reason to take a breather now.”

The St Mary’s outfit moved to 33 points for the campaign after Saturday’s 2-0 victory at Sheffield United.

But Fulham’s shock 1-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday, thanks to a goal from Saints loanee Mario Lemina, meant Hasenhuttl’s side are seven points clear of the drop-zone with 11 games of their season remaining.

And, with his troops set to visit runaway leaders Manchester City on Wednesday (6pm), the manager insists Saints must keep their foot on the pedal.

He said: “There’s no reason to take a breather now because we’re still in the middle of the season and everything is still tight.

“We had an important game on the weekend with an important three points for us, definitely.

“But it goes on quickly - we have now Man City on Wednesday and then, on Sunday, Brighton.

“You see the table, how tight it is. Fulham won also, so it’s still tight.

“I think it can be that 40 points you need this season because there is no team really dropping off in the back three.

“Fulham is a strong side, so it can be that you need a few more points this season.”