SAINTS manager Russell Martin insisted that his side can be more ruthless if "the guys at the top end take their risks."

Southampton have scored first in the last 10 games but have often had their leads reduced early in the second half.

Saturday's draw at Huddersfield saw Saints take the lead just before halftime before being pegged back by a hardworking Huddersfield.

Asked why his side haven't been able to carry their first-half pressure through to the second half, Martin said: “It’s about maintaining that and turning our dominance into something that makes it difficult for our opponents to get back into the game.

“I watched Tottenham on Sunday with a few people and we asked the question, could they maintain it? They couldn’t.

"It’s not just us - it’s the hardest thing when you are dominating the ball and teams are still coming after you.

“It’s really different here than in our last job. There we had very little respect at the start of the game from the opposition. They arrived to go all out and disrupt our flow - we had to earn respect.

“Here we have a lot of respect currently. Some games are different, but because of the quality of players and being in the Premier League.

“When the context changes we haven’t been as fluid or intense. What comes first is always going to be courage.

"But to play the way we want to play takes a huge amount of intensity - it’s not easy when 10 men are chasing you like dogs."

Against both Huddersfield on Saturday and Rotherham earlier this season, Saints were unable to claim three points, despite their dominance, due to a lack of clinical edge in the final third.

With the exception of Adam Armstrong, who is among the top goalscorers in the division, Southampton's next highest scorers are on three goals.

Daily Echo: Saints boss Russell Martin is proud of the work being done at the club.

Although his side ranks fifth in the division for goals scored (28), Martin admits there is room to improve on that metric.

"We have a lot of young players in positions where we are requiring them to be really ruthless. That’s the challenge for us, we need to help them with the mentality in and around goal.

“The guys at the back are taking what is perceived to be a risk, for us not so much, with the way they play and the pressure they invite. They do that really well. I watch them with such immense pride - they will only keep getting better.

“When we get to the top end of the pitch, the guys need to take their risks. There is always a balance to be had. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t want to have 80 per cent of the ball and not have a shot. I want us to have intensity on the ball and a lot of shots.

“We have to find a way to be better than that. At both clubs I’ve been at it has always been the last bit to come.

“When it clicks players have a real understanding of each other and the goals tend to follow. I think we are fairly well placed in terms of goals scored, but there should be a lot more."