SAINTS defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis attributed the team's improvement across 15 matches unbeaten to "the intensity in training" every day. 

The 21 year old scored at the back post to give Saints a 1-0 victory at QPR to make it 15 games without defeat – their longest unbeaten run since 1950.

The visitors ended the match with 10 men following the 89th-minute sending-off of Shea Charles, but they held on.

It was the second goal scored by Man City loanee Harwood-Bellis, who will become a permanent Saints player if the club are promoted to the Premier League. 

Speaking after the match, he said: “We're buzzing. I thought we played some good stuff. Dug in in the second half and it's good to get the three points and celebrate with the fans at the end.

“It's really difficult with the atmosphere and the small pitch. I thought it didn't change the way we played.

"We still moved for each other, supported each other with intensity, and the way we won the ball back I thought was relentless throughout the second half.

“I thought the midfielders, strikers, and the whole team to be fair just defended well. We had to get to the crucial chances and defend them. We were top.”

Harwood-Bellis added: “I think we're looking really good and that's down to the intensity in training and the confidence in each other.

"It's the way we train and come in every day and want to get better and want to learn more. There's still more to come. I don't think we're the finished article yet.

“I think just the way we play out from the back and get the ball forward and got to be patient at times.

"I think it's incredible and everyone does it, not just the starting 11 but the people that come on, it doesn't change and that's down to training as well."

Harwood-Bellis did play down the significance of the unbeaten run, which has seen Saints claim 35 points from 45 available and rise from 15th in the Championship. 

He explained: "To be fair not many people have been talking about it too much. I think you have got to forget about and it's a cliche, but go on to the next game.

"We'll review it and find out what we've done well and what we can do better for the next game, and just focus on winning the next game.

"Obviously, 15 games unbeaten, it's an incredible run and hopefully it can carry on.”