Charlie Austin berated an unacceptable Southampton performance after they fell to a 3-0 defeat against West Ham United in the Premier League.
Saints were undone by three first-half goals and never recovered as the hosts earned all three points.
And after returning to the side in a starting berth for his first taste of action since December, Austin rued that first-half display.
“It was poor, not good enough and easy to say unacceptable. The first-half performance there’s mistakes and they score from our corner when someone has got to foul him or do something,” Austin said.
“It just wasn’t good enough, we need to pull our finger out and do it sharp. There are seven games to go and we’ve given ourselves a mountain to climb.
“We’ve got to win fast and get out the hole we’re in. We’re fortunate that results are half going our way to keep everyone around it.”
With seven games to go, Austin called for unity to ensure that Saints remain a Premier League club next season.
He added: “We need everyone to believe. It’s easy to say it as a player being stood here, but we need the fans to believe.
“I know they might have watched, listened on the radio, or been here today but we need them all to believe we can get out this mess. I know they’re probably thinking someone else is on about it again but we have seven games to go now.
“That’s what it comes down to and we need to put all our energy into that. I know it’s hard to do after watching that performance but that’s what we have to do.
“Come the end of the season, Southampton needs to be a Premier League club and we need to push in one direction.”
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