BRENTFORD manager Thomas Frank launched an impassioned defence of counterpart Nathan Jones after his team swept Saints aside on Saturday afternoon to keep them rooted to the bottom of the table.

The defeat marked the sixth loss in Jones’s seven Premier League games in charge and the meek surrender in West London led to multiple chants against the manager from his own travelling fans.

But asked about the under-pressure Saints boss following Brentford’s comfortable victory, Frank backed the 49-year-old to turn things around at St Mary’s.

READ MORE: 'I don't know' - Jones coy on future amid Saints fan unrest following latest defeat

"I think he's a fantastic manager that worked wonders at Luton,” Frank said. “I'm convinced he'll turn them around."

Saints were second-best from the offset at the Brentford Community Stadium, conceding twice shortly before half-time to dig themselves a giant hole before Mathias Jensen confirmed the result with a third in the 80th minute.

"The first half was maybe the most complete performance this season,” Frank added of his side’s display.

"In the second half at 2-0, the other team always come out and have a go, but I can’t remember a big chance they had. Every player out there is in a fantastic place.”

Speaking after the defeat, Jones admitted that he had gone away from his managerial ideals in recent weeks and asked about the comments, Frank said: "I think there's a fine line between being pragmatic and staying to your concept. I don't know exactly the situation or what he said but I understand."

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