Oriol Romeu admits Southampton must banish their away-day blues if they are to overcome Sunderland on Saturday.
Claude Puel’s side have won just one Premier League game on the road since September, with Saints emerging victorious in just two of their top-flight away outings this season.
They did overcome Liverpool at Anfield a few weeks ago to clinch a place in next weekend’s EFL Cup final, but they’ve lost six of their last seven PL games slipping to 13th in the table.
And speaking ahead of the game, Romeu admitted they cannot afford to lose at the Stadium of Light.
"It is very important,” the midfielder told Southampton’s official website. “We haven't felt very good playing the last games and also playing away we haven't played our best football, so it will be tough.
“They are in a difficult situation, and if we want to enjoy the league, if we want to play much better football then we need to start winning games and to have the confidence back.”
He continued: "They have had ups and downs along the season, and now they want to come back.
“They are in a difficult situation in the table, and I'm sure they want to get out from there.
“We just want to make sure they have no chances to win the game, that we go there with our heads right and win the game.
“We really need it and we really want it.”
