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George Bennett

Rickie Lambert outlines key area for Southampton survival ahead of Leeds United clash

Rickie Lambert says 'simplicity' will be key to lifting Southampton off the bottom of the Premier League and away from the relegation zone.

Leeds United welcome Southampton to Elland Road on Saturday in another relegation six-pointer. The Whites plunged into the bottom three following a 1-0 defeat against relegation rivals Everton at Goodison Park last weekend.

Meanwhile, Ruben Selles marked his debut as Southampton caretaker manager with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Southampton legend Lambert has questioned the club's decision to sack Ralph Hasenhuttl but insists that 'simplicity' is the answer to their problems because there is 'no time' to implement a new style of play.

READ MORE: New assistant, Rodrigo return, Rutter scheme and Javi Gracia's Leeds United in-tray

"When the decision came that they were going to get rid of Ralph, I was worried. I'll be honest, I was worried. I was a massive fan of Ralph and I think he massively achieved at Southampton. I don't know why that decision came," Lambert told Hampshire Live.

"I always felt like he was going to get it right this season. He brought in young, exciting players who he was going to develop. I think he's one of the best in the country at developing players and he was going to do that.

“They just want simplicity. Simplicity from a manager who gives them simple orders, who gets them into a simple defensive shape, where every one of them knows what to do for their teammate.

"And then going forward, they will score the goals. They need a manager to drum in a way of playing that isn’t overly complicated because he hasn't got time now to begin a new shape or a new way of playing.

"It needs to be very simple and very easy to carry out and hard for an opposition to break it down. And if they do that, and they start getting little results here and there, then the confidence will grow and you've got a chance.”

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