MARK Hughes insists Saints just need to add a little killer instinct to their game to become a complete team.

The Saints boss was encouraged by a lot of what he saw in the 2-2 draw with Brighton at St Mary’s on Monday night.

However, the major downside was a familiar problem coming back to haunt them as Saints let a two-goal lead slip.

That is five points dropped from winning positions already this season in what has been a regular theme over the last couple of years.

Hughes believes his team are a very good side, but just need to see games out.

He said: “Disappointing but we just pick ourselves up and go again.

“We take positives from a lot of the good play we produced but it’s that ability to see the game out we need to add to our game and once we do that I think everybody can see we are quite an accomplished side at this level but we need to get maximum points when we have the opportunity.

“This was a big opportunity to get into the top ten and get back-to-back wins that we’ve found difficulty with so it’s a missed opportunity really if we are honest.”

There are suggestions that the problem is a mental issue in the squad, who have looked increasingly jittery defending leads.

It cost them against Brighton when they had a go after playing so well and even in their one top flight win this season against Crystal Palace they found themselves holding on despite having been the better side for the vast majority of the game.

“Maybe,” said Hughes when asked if it was a mental issue. “I have mentioned before that I sensed that but I don’t think that was the case this time because we had a real go and our general play was more on the front foot and we are playing with more confidence and that’s clear for everybody to see.

“You have periods in games where momentum goes against you and you just have to ride out those moments and hope that you don’t concede or are damaged by the shift in momentum the opposition are able to create.

“At the end of the day you have got to give them credit. They had nothing to lose, they were 2-0 down and thought ‘sod it’, let’s throw people forward, have a go and take risks and that’s what happens on occasion and they got a positive result so credit to them.

“From our point of view it’s disappointing because it’s a game where we should have been home and hosed long before the winner when they got the penalty award.”