Southampton have progressed under Pochettino, says Lallana

Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana says he can see the improvement in his team since Mauricio Pochettino arrived at St Mary’s.

The 2-0 win over Reading on Saturday – their third consecutive victory – took the Saints up to 11th in the Premier League table and almost certainly confirms their top-flight status for next season.

Pochettino’s side are now six points clear of the relegation zone with six to play, and Lallana admits that the controversial decision taken by owner Nicola Cortese has proved correct.

“We have progressed,” Lallana said. “We’ve got a different manager who’s got a different culture about him and different methods and he’s gradually getting them across.

“It must have (helped us). We’re sitting higher in the league, we’re scoring more goals and the table speaks for itself.”

One player who has benefitted from more game time under Pochettino is striker Jay Rodriguez. The six-million-pound signing was a bit-part player under former boss Nigel Adkins, but has appeared more regularly under Pochettino.

The former Burnley man was influential in the win over Reading, grabbing a goal and an assist as the Saints denied their former manager a victory.

On Rodriguez, Pochettino said: “I am just really happy with him and all my players because they showed a great capacity to adapt to this new brand of football I want to play.”