#PLStories- Southampton ace Stuart Armstrong urges for calm and admits ‘worst thing’ is losing belief #SAINTSFC

STUART Armstrong insists the “worst thing” Saints can do is lose their positivity and belief as he attempts to reassure supporters that it is still early in the season. His defence comes as the club hit rock bottom of the Premier League after a 3-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in front of their own fans on Boxing Day. New manager Nathan Jones was leading only his second Premier League game when James Ward-Prowse converted a second bite of the cherry from the penalty spot to reduce arrears. Brighton were comfortable leaders and are a team relatively similar in stature and operating to Saints, who replaced their manager this season for different reasons, but now sit seventh in the league. Some supporters fear the only way is down for the St Mary’s side despite the Jones appointment coming early enough in the season for change, but Armstrong insists the players cannot think that or else. “The Premier League is the hardest league in the world and it’s definitely not easy, I’ve seen a lot of things now in my fifth season,” the Scottish international told the Daily Echo. “I’ve seen ups and downs and to lose our belief and positivity is the worst thing we can do. We know we are a capable group and it’s all about gelling together, especially in the tough times.” Armstrong added: “I think we still have 20 or so more games to go so it’s early days and we have to remain calm. It’s so early in the season and as I have said before, in the next fixtures we’re playing teams all around us and there is big points available.” Armstrong himself was only used as a second-half substitute for the defeat to Brighton in the return of league action following the World Cup, after missing a day of training due to a knock in the build-up. The 30-year-old’s influence had been waning under former manager Ralph Hasenhuttl already, now having started just 7 of the 16 league games this campaign. Saints are only two points off Everton in safety and face the likes of Nottingham Forest and the Toffees in January, but three wins this season and only a further one since February do not inspire confidence. “I think with a change of manager you always need time and things are not going to change overnight,” Armstrong insisted. “We have a lot of time to work on things. “We had the Cup game but the Premier League is a different pot altogether. It's not how we wanted to start back up our campaign and I think having games sooner rather than later after this poor performance is always better.” Armstrong insists they are not looking at the league table, adding: “I think the league table is for the outside. I think inside it's a process and it's game by game. “It always has been and it always will be - we can't get caught up in it. It's a transient game football and it's quite turbulent at times. “We know if we can improve our performances which start in training then ultimately that will lead to points. So that's where we start and hopefully we get the outcomes we want.” A message from the Editor Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo. Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website. You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.