No cause for panic yet at Southampton, says former player Benali

Southampton fans should not be downhearted about their prospects for the season after a dismal opening day defeat but should steel themselves for a battle against relegation that may go the distance, former Saints favourite Francis Benali says.

Ralph Hasenhuettl's side took the lead at Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday but were quickly pegged back and conceded four times to lose 4-1, meaning it was a fifth straight loss for the club including results from the end of last season.

Many bookmakers have Southampton as fourth favourites to go down, which would end a decade in the top flight. However, ahead of Saturday's home clash against Leeds United, former tough-tackling full back Benali said rational thinking was needed.

"There's a lot of optimism around this time of the season, but that can quickly shift into a negative reaction when you're on the back of a heavy defeat like we were on Saturday at Tottenham," the 53-year-old told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"I think there's clearly areas that have got to be improved. The defending wasn't good, some of the goals we conceded (the players) weren't good enough...

"But I think it's maybe just ingrained in me as a player and just having that mindset of knowing it's a long slog and these things, as we've seen before, can often come down to the last day of the season and I've been in that position myself personally.

"So it's very much hoping for the best, but in some ways preparing for the worst."

Benali, who made more than 350 appearances for Southampton from 1988-2004, experienced a number of relegation battles but never once suffered dropping out of the top flight.

His stamina has no doubt helped him in his post-playing career to complete multiple marathons and Ironmans for