Tuesday 9 December 2014 15:59, UK
Captain Jose Fonte admits Southampton must cut out mistakes like his under-hit backpass against Manchester United if they are to stay in the higher echelons of the Premier League table.
The Portuguese undersold goalkeeper Fraser Forster to gift the lurking Robin van Persie an early opening goal in United's 2-1 victory at St Mary's on Monday evening.
Dutch striker van Persie then volleyed the winner in the second half after Graziano Pelle had dragged Saints level.
We need to learn from it quickly because, at the highest level, the big teams with top-class players will punish you
Fonte shouldered the blame for Saints' third straight defeat on his 200th club appearance and said: "It was frustrating: apart from my mistake and that free-kick in the second half, we weren't in danger.
"They didn't create much, whereas we were in control of the game. We were dominating, but we have to stop these mistakes and to try to avoid them because they're costing us.
"When you play in a game like this and play in the way we did - especially in the first half - then I think it's disappointing for everyone.
"We certainly didn't deserve to lose. We were as good as, if not better than, them - that's why it's disappointing. We lost the game because of ourselves."
Saints have slipped to fifth in the Premier League after consecutive defeats to Manchester City, Arsenal and United.
Ronald Koeman's side have still to face Everton, Chelsea and the return clash with Arsenal before the Christmas run abates and Fonte added: "Unfortunately, we made a couple of mistakes and that cost us some points.
"We need to learn from it quickly because, at the highest level, the big teams with top-class players will punish you - that's what's happened in the last three games.
"I'm disappointed and frustrated, but we need to pick ourselves up because we have another game on Saturday and we need to get some points."
