Koeman wary of win-shy Villa

The Villans currently sit at the foot of the Barclays Premier League table, having not won since the opening day of the season.

Some would suggest that a home game against  the league’s bottom team would be an ideal one for a Saints side desperate to get back to winning ways after three consecutive losses.

But Koeman was quick to dismiss any notion that his players are in for an easy ride at St Mary’s.

“We know that there is never an easy game in the Premier League – not at home, not away,” he stressed. 

“Everybody needs points and they have to win because the situation of Villa is dangerous in the Premier League.

“We expect a difficult one because they are fighting to stay in the Premier League, but it's all about us and how we start the game.”

Saints have already beaten Villa at home twice in 2015 – once in the Premier League at the end of last season, and again in the Capital One Cup in November.

But Koeman does not expect those results to have a bearing on tomorrow’s game – especially given Villa have replaced manager Tim Sherwood with Rémi Garde since the last meeting.

“It's a different occasion – you can't compare opponents,” insisted the Saints boss. 

“There's a new manager, some new players and it's always different to how it was last time.

“There is always a difference when a new manager is coming in. He's changed some players but it's still a 4-3-3 system.

“They had a very disappointing result against Watford (who won 3-2 at Villa Park last weekend) because it's those kind of games that they have to win to come higher in the league table.”