Share

Hughes: Southampton players still believe

Cape Town - Mark Hughes insists Southampton are not "downhearted" despite blowing the chance to boost their slim survival hopes.

Southampton could only manage a goalless draw at out-of-form Leicester City on Thursday, with the point doing little to give the Saints hope of beating the drop.

Hughes' side are now four points adrift of fourth bottom Swansea, and have played a game more than the Welsh side after just one Premier League win in 21 outings.

But new boss Hughes insists his players haven’t accepted that relegation is inevitable.

"Clearly we would have liked to have been more expansive but we got a point, and we play at home next which is huge for us," said Hughes.

"Only time will tell to see whether the point is enough for us. There was a little bit of apprehension in our play which is understandable, but I can't fault the players, they put in a shift during a warm evening.

"The players are a little bit flat and we have got a big game at the weekend but we are not in the situation where we are downhearted. It's the disappointment of not getting maximum points, but the key was to get something from the game."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1272 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
30% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2240 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE