PREMIER LEAGUE VINTAGE CLARET Hasenhuttl hopes that Dennis will not be a menace for Saints

RALPH HASENHUTTL is praying the only storm to hit Southampton today will be whipped up by his side’s attack.

The last time Saints played in adverse weather conditions at home, they suffered a Premier League record-equalling 9-0 defeat to Leicester.

Manager Hasenhuttl, whose side host Burnley today in the eye of Storm Dennis, said: “Not again. We just left one storm behind and now another.

“Hopefully, we’ll also be stormy in attack. The last time it was stormy at St Mary’s, it was the 9-0, so we hope we can turn this weather into a positive result.”

The Austrian (above) has also paid a glowing tribute to Clarets counterpart Sean Dyche ahead of their clash. Saints chief Hasenhuttl

said: “I didn’t really know of him before, but we played each other twice and I think it’s a typical example of no matter how you want to play, if you’re successful it’s fantastic.

“The way he formed a team and club, it’s a perfect example of how clearly you have to go your way to be successful.

“It’s not the most likely opponent you want to play against.”

Saints have lost only two of their last eight Premier League games to open up a seven-point gap on the relegation zone.

Defender Jan Bednarek (below) has told his team-mates they still need to be more ruthless if they are to challenge in the top half of the table.

Poland international Bednarek said: “There is still a bit to learn and to do it even better by being even more merciless.

“We will do it because that’s what we are missing to be a big team. I think we found our way. We found our system and we found our philosophy.

“That’s been the main thing and we haven’t been changing formation every game which has helped us improve.

“It’s really difficult to play against us and we can cause many problems.

“There is still a small bit to improve because, when we take the lead, we need to still be relentless in the opposition’s penalty box.

“That’s something to improve and we still have the time to analyse that and get better.”

Saints are set to hand a debut to on-loan Tottenham defender Kyle Walker-peters.

Hasenhuttl added: “He has trained now for two weeks and shown that he can help us.

“He has learnt our habits and behaviours which is important for him.”