Koeman eyes Europa League spot after victory over Toon

Sam Nightingale
Ronald Koeman: Eyeing a place in next season's Europa League.

Ronald Koeman: Eyeing a place in next season's Europa League.

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman remains hopeful that the Saints can qualify for next season’s Europa League after his team beat Newcastle 3-1.

Goals from Shane Long, Graziano Pelle and Victor Wanyama put Southampton 3-0 up at St Mary’s before Andros Townsend pulled one back for the visitors.

Southampton are now seventh in the Premier League and three points off fifth-placed Manchester United.

And Saints’ Dutch boss admitted he sent his players out in a 4-2-4 formation in order to catch Newcastle cold – a ploy that worked perfectly.

“I put pressure on the players to play in a system with four strikers,” said Koeman.

“To start very offensively and press Newcastle from the start. And it worked fantastically well. That was the key to the victory today.”