Ronald Koeman believes the next two games will be vital to Saints’ European ambitions.

Two defeats and a draw in their last four matches have seen Saints sucked back into fifth place in the Premier League table with the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham right on their shoulder.

Though Koeman insists there are no easy game at this level, tomorrow’s match at West Brom and Tuesday’s home fixture against Crystal Palace do appear to offer a greater chance of collecting wins, coming as they do against sides battling against relegation.

Koeman doesn’t think the results will make or break Saints’ season, but does feel they are hugely important in the context of their campaign following recent disappointments.

He said: “It’s very important. We will play a lot of our chances for a high position in the table for the next two games we have and we have to realise that and be prepared for that. I think we are doing well.

“If you go back to the game against Liverpool I think we played well and deserved much more than we got finally.

“It’s now to be more effective. We are not effective enough to score and to win games. Total view of the team I am happy.” He added: “No, not really (make or break), because if you lose two and then you win the rest.

“But I think it’s important for the confidence of the team and the players to have the good results and then to be back home to play against Crystal Palace and to win the game, because then you know if you don’t win three, four games at home it’s always one of the questions in the press conference, ‘what happened?’

“Ok, we know that that’s football and we have to accept that and try to change that.”

Koeman admits it is logical that the big teams were going to hit form, but sees it as an exciting challenge rather than a depressing reality.

“No, it’s always a challenge to keep that in the team.

“That’s the reason what I said that in the next two games we play a lot of our chances to keep going up in the table, and really to stay close to them, and that’s in the next two games.

“If you win two games you will be again in that position. If not, it will be maybe with a distance and then your possibilities are more less than two weeks ago.”