A win at home to Leicester in the previous game appeared to have steadied the boat after shipping three goals at Leeds but despite Raheem Sterling scoring for the second game running, Southampton hit back with two goals before half-time to leave the Blues in eighth place ahead of Wednesday’s games, with seven points from our five fixtures.

‘It is very clear that it is not a good start,’ said Azpilicueta as he analysed the performance.

‘This is a reflection of the inconsistency in the games where we had good spells but we were not able to get something. Some games we played well and others not so well. We need to find the consistency to keep winning games. That is what will take us higher in the table where we want to be.

‘Of course we work to change things and work hard to have the aggression we used to have. It is pretty obvious we are conceding too many goals and we make it very difficult for ourselves every game. The Premier League is tougher and tougher, we know how it works in this competition and when we conceded so many goals, we make it more difficult for us.

‘We are a team that will reflect on what we do, what we can improve as a group and individually,’ he added.

‘We have to be honest with ourselves, we know that we can be better, and from there we have to work hard, we need to get back to winning ways. We came back from a defeat against Leeds and we turned things around against Leicester, and still again at Southampton we lose. We are inconsistent and we need to find consistency.’

One positive has been Sterling in front of goal, with the new signing having scored our last three goals.

‘Raheem is a very experienced player and has been playing in the Premier League a long time and he has proven his qualities,’ noted Azpilicueta, ‘so he has adapted really quickly and well to the team.

‘He has scored goals and he has been involved making movements and making assists so it is great to have him in the team, but we need that support from everybody and hopefully we can count those goals in points.’