Saints lost the EFL Cup final to Manchester United last Sunday, but are straight back to action this weekend, as they head to Vicarage Road.
A victory could lift them back into the top half of the table, and Stephens says it is time to refocus.
"We’ve got some big games coming up in the league and we want to finish as high as possible, so we have got to get over it pretty quickly, because obviously we’ve got Watford now,” he said. “We need to get back on it.
"I think a couple of defeats in our position and people start to look over your shoulder, but a couple of wins and you’re flying straight up the table.
“It’s a strange position to be in at the moment, but hopefully we can get a couple of wins on the board and we’re looking right up the table then.”
Stephens also believes a really strong run of form over their next couple of games could even possibly get Saints back into the realms of challenging for a Europa League spot.
"I don’t think we’re too far away from the Europa League places,” he said.
“Ok, we’re in 13th, which doesn’t look great, but one or two wins and you’re in the top half of the table, so it’s definitely something we need to push on for."
The 25-year-old has made a storming start to his Saints career with five goals in three games, including a double in last weekend’s EFL Cup final defeat by Manchester United. And he has revealed he has been swatting up on the city’s history including how the doomed liner set sail from there in 1912. Gabbiadini said: “I know the story of the Titanic. Well, in my case, the adventure has started well, but I’m always realistic.
“Football is an open sea. In good times, the storm can arrive at any time” “Football is an open sea. In good times, the storm can arrive at any time. I cannot relax. “Five goals in three games is a good start, but it won’t always be like this. “There will be times where it isn’t as easy, but there’s one thing I can guarantee: I will always give the maximum I can, and will never give up”. Gabbiadini aims to add to his impressive goals haul when Saints travel to Watford today looking to improve on a record of just two wins in 22 visits to Vicarage Road.
The former Napoli ace says he already feels at home on the south coast following his £17m transfer deadline-day move. Gabbiadini added: “When I joined Southampton I found a young group and a manager on top of things. “I still live in a hotel, but I’ll be moving into a house soon. Southampton can really be the turning point in my career. “The manager has helped me find the freedom I had lost in Italy by letting me play as a pure striker.”
Saints boss Claude Puel admits Gabbiadini is still struggling to come to terms with the language – but is happy for his new star to do his talking on the pitch. The Saints boss said: “Communication is always difficult. Manolo understand but cannot speak for the moment. “The language of football is the same for all players and the rest comes step by step. “The more Manolo scores this is fantastic but he could not do the same work in other teams. He has the perfect profile for Southampton.”
| Saints Could Be In For Chelsea Defender ! | Saints are reported to be interested in bringing Chelsea’s former Bounemouth loanee Nathan Ake to St Mary’s in the … 04-03-2017 |
Bournemouth are on a horrible run of six defeats and two draws since New Year’s Eve and, though they remain four points above 18th, the word ‘crisis’ will be imminent should they lose today. United won in the preposterous ‘bomb scare’ rearranged match here last year and, having strung together their longest unbeaten run in the league since 2012-13, when they won the title, they should be confident of winning. One of the relatively unacknowledged foundations of Manchester United’s revival this season was Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo, arguably the fourth-choice centre-back partnership, gelling and giving them a defensive foundation at last. They’re reunited today - and Luke Shaw, Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney are also back - which demonstrates Mourinho’s growing sense of assurance about the depth of quality in his squad.
Bournemouth have left out Jack Wilshere who has done OK at Dean Court but not much better than that. King and Afobe playing together, if Surman and Arter can get them some ball, ought to be a test for Jones and Rojo but Pugh and Fraser, Smith and Daniels, will also need to push United’s full-backs behind halfway to stop their thrust.