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Oriol Romeu believes Southampton should not start pointing fingers amid poor form

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Oriol Romeu says finger-pointing won't help fix Southampton's poor form this season

Oriol Romeu has urged his Southampton teammates not to start pointing fingers at each other after an eight-match winless run.

Their last victory was a 4-1 win over Everton in November but Mauricio Pellegrino's side have picked up a morale-boosting point against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Southampton host Crystal Palace at St Mary's on Tuesday and Romeu says he and his teammates are determined to work together to achieve a turnaround in their fortunes.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 15:  Oriol Romeu of Southampton in action during the Premier League match between Southampton and Newcastle United at St Mar
Image: Oriol Romeu has backed Southampton to stick together and overcome their poor run of form

"When you are in this situation it is not good to point at something," Romeu told Sky Sports.

"You need to look at the overall feeling and be honest. We all need to look at ourselves and see what we are not doing right and correct those things.

"I wouldn't say it is one specific thing - either physically, tactically or technically. It is just a matter of getting all those things together and pushing the team in the same direction."

Southampton v Crystal Palace preview
Southampton v Crystal Palace preview

Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy looks set to keep his place as Southampton host Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

Maya Yoshida conceded last month the situation at Southampton was worse under Pellegrino than his predecessor Claude Puel but the Argentine manager vowed to stick to his footballing philosophy after his side's encouraging point last Saturday.

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Romeu doesn't believe Pellegrino deserves to take the brunt of the criticism and insisted it is up to the players to make their performances count on the pitch.

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Mauricio Pellegrino insists he will keep working to instil his philosophy at Southampton

"We don't like the manager going and there to be constant changes - it doesn't help," said Romeu.

"The ones that are playing are us so we are the ones that have to sort this situation out.

"Of course, the staff, the manager have to correct things and make us play better football. We are the ones that are going to be playing out on the pitch so of course we have to improve and look at what we are not doing right.

"The manager is not the one that is doing everything wrong."

Southampton's Charlie Austin (2nd left) celebrates scoring his side's second goal with his team-mates during the Premier League match v Everton
Image: Southampton have not won since a 4-1 success over Everton in November

The Spanish footballer also dismissed assertions that the Southampton players were not playing for their manager.

"I didn't have that feeling but maybe from the outside you can have it. I don't think the lads are playing their own game.

"If I see someone who is not giving their best we will tell them and always do the right things."

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