Long: We need the fans more than ever

By SFC Media time Tue 02 Jan Saints v Crystal Palace

Shane Long stressed that the Southampton fans are needed now more than ever after the side were beaten 2-1 at home by Crystal Palace.

Saints led at St Mary's through Long's first-half strike, but the Eagles' second-half fightback leaves Mauricio Pellegrino's team above the Premier League relegation zone only by virtue of goal difference.

"It's very frustrating, very disappointing," said Long. "We knew it was a massive game, and going 1-0 up and playing some good football I thought we could have gone on and got two or three.

"Fair play to Palace, they held on in there and the longer the game went on the more they grew into it.

"We knew what they were about, we knew that the ball would come into the box and it was all about second runs off Benteke and they scored from it. It was a bit of a sucker punch for us, and when you're in the situation that we're in it's hard to get out of – you need that win, you need that bit of luck to go your way.

"We've got a good side, we've got good players and we just need to start believing. It's frustrating for us and for the fans, but we need them now more than ever."

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