Koeman: Solid defence key to great away record

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman says his side are looking to extend their unbeaten away record when they travel to face struggling Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Saints have won one and drawn four of their five away ties so far, and he told the official club website that he puts their away form down to a solid defence:

First of all, I think we have a good organisation in the team.

We are strong defending, we are very strong in defending set pieces and we have people in front who can score and who can create chances to win the game, but I think in all the away games every time was very solid defensive organisation.

We had not a lot of shots on target from our opponents and we like to continue.

Sam Allardyce’s side are struggling in the league, and are sitting in 19th place, with only Aston Villa below them. However, Koeman thinks that the game at the weekend won’t be an easy one and warned against complacency.

The confidence is very good in the team and, of course, it’s a help that you see that you still are unbeaten, but you have to fight, you have to work hard for that, to keep that performance away and we know that Sunderland is struggling, it’s difficult.

They had a big loss last week and they will react. They play at home, they need points and for them it’s a difficult situation and that’s sometimes for an opponent a dangerous one.

Southampton are clearly a more talented side than the Sunderland team that they’ll face at the weekend, but as Koeman pointed out, the Black Cats are desperate for points and will see every home game as an opportunity to acquire them.

Sunderland have won just one game all season, so Saints fans will be hopeful that their unbeaten away record remains intact.