Still claims 'there isn't an instant fix' for Saints

Southampton sit one place above the Championship relegation zone

Southampton boss Will Still has promised to "keep fighting" as pressure mounts following another disappointing result and performance.

Saints were beaten 2-0 by Preston North End on Saturday with fans inside St Mary's booing the team after the full-time whistle and even chanting that Still was getting "sacked in the morning".

On two separate occasions, supporters also loudly sung for ownership group Sport Republic to "get out" of the club.

"I'm not going to give up, I'm not going to stop and I'll keep fighting as long as I have the opportunity to," Still told BBC Radio Solent.

"If I'd got an instant fix I would have found it about a month or two months ago, I don't think there is an instant fix to be really honest with you and I think whoever it is, there's a big job and I knew there was a big job coming in here.

"I said a few weeks ago there were a lot of things that need to change that haven't changed yet because we haven't had the time to do that but there's still evidently a lot of work to do."

This is Still's first managerial job in England and he arrived on the south coast in the summer after coaching teams in France and Belgium.

Saturday's defeat has left Saints just one position above the relegation zone with five league defeats, six draws and just two wins.

They have only won once at St Mary's in the Championship all season which was against Wrexham on the opening day of the campaign.

Their other league victory was away at Bramall Lane when Ross Stewart scored twice to beat fellow strugglers Sheffield United.

Since that win, Saints have struggled without a prominent frontman due to Stewart picking up an injury that has ruled him out until the new year.

In his place, Still has tried a number of combinations including Adam Armstrong and Finn Azaz through the middle at times, while summer signing Damion Downs has been sparsely used and looks low on confidence.

On Saturday against Preston, Southampton looked nervy in the final third, registering just two shots on target through the game.

Their best effort came from the boot of Caspar Jander who struck the crossbar with a curling effort in the second half.

"We look naïve," Still added. "We look soft when it really matters and that's what the Championship does to you.

"Talent is great and is really interesting but if you don't work hard at the same time you don't get anywhere, hard work has beaten talent today."

Next up for Still's Saints is a midweek game at QPR - who have lost their past two - before a home encounter against bottom club Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday.