Ronald Koeman insists that Saints can still qualify for European football even if they fail to beat West Ham at St Mary’s this evening.

Saints go into the game in seventh place, just one spot below the Hammers but with a five point deficit to make up.

Only the Premier League’s top five are currently guaranteed European places for next season, but it could extend to seventh depending on the winners of the two domestic cup competitions.

That was the case last season, when Saints nabbed seventh spot to get into the Europa League.

The game against the Hammers seems vital with the two clubs involved in the shake up, but Koeman doesn’t think it to be decisive.

He said: “No not so much because it is still a long way to go and it’s difficult with so many clubs when they have a good run they come back or fall out of opportunities.

“If we don’t win this weekend then we don’t reach European football? I don’t think so.”

Koeman did concede that defeat to West Ham would make it tough to catch them, but after a fine run of form the team are in confident mood.

“Of course, it’s a distance now of five points,” he reflected.

“We are in a good moment in the team, the confidence, we play home, a big game and we know what we have to do.”

Saints faced the Hammers at Upton Park little over a month ago, dominating the first half but only leading 1-0 at the break in a game they went on to lose 2-1.

“That game came after the Arsenal home game and we played fantastic football in the first 45 minutes,” recalled Koeman.

“You know if you make the second goal then normally you will win that game, but at 1-0 they are still in life.

“We will see if we learn from that because still they are dangerous.

“It’s all about ourselves because we create chances but we need to be more clinical in our final pass, because our final pass was not good against Man United, was not good at Arsenal, but four points.

“Our last pass was not the best what we can bring and that we need.”

He added: “I think they (West Ham) have more confidence, they have a better organisation defensively in the team, they have some really good players with individual qualities.

“They are physically a very strong team and we know what we have to do because not so long ago we played West Ham away, had a great 45 minutes, only 1-0 in front and put Carroll on the pitch and that makes it more difficult.

“It’s a tough one to beat, they have a great run in away games with big results against big teams and we know we can beat them because we have good players, good confidence.

“We showed that 45 minutes and we have to show that the whole game and then we have that confidence we can beat them.”