ORIOL Romeu insists age and inexperience is not a factor in the streaky nature of Saints, saying “I guess it’s momentum” after picking up just one win in nine league matches.

The poor run of form dates back to the start of March, where Saints were ninth in the Premier League and humiliated 4-0 on the road at Aston Villa.

Since then, they have only defeated Arsenal – playing 10 men behind the ball at St Mary’s – in a result that could prove to be enormous in securing league survival.

However, Saints had been on a streak of just one defeat in 10 matches – picking up 19 points from the available 30 between mid-December and the end of February.

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Asked how the performances and results have been so wildly different for Saints, given that it also seems to happen every season, Romeu told the Daily Echo: “I guess it’s momentum.

“All the teams go through periods where they struggle more and where they feel more confident. Now we are not having things our way, it’s harder to find that confidence with the ball or to find players.

“In the second-half (of the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace) for instance, we had a lot of balls in good areas but didn’t have any clear chance and that tells you we need to improve. Making the decisions in the final third is where you can really hurt them.”

Saints have the fourth-youngest squad in the Premier League this season, with first-team stars such as Tino Livramento and Armando Broja just 19 and 20-years-old.

Their defence is made up of players such as 22-year-old Mohammed Salisu, 25-year-old Kyle Walker-Peters, 24-year-old Romain Perraud.

Fringe players often turned to by Ralph Hasenhuttl as substitutes such as Nathan Tella, 22, Yan Valery, 23, and Ibrahima Diallo, 23, also only have limited Premier League experience.

However, Romeu insists this does not play a role in the seemingly fragile mentality that Saints continue to suffer from.

“Everyone is trying to do their best, regardless of the age we all push and help each other for the better,” he added.

“It’s a matter of everyone, not just the young or the old ones, making sure we are sticking to our plan and competing as good as we can to give us as many points as we can.”

Daily Echo:

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