Ronald Koeman admitted he was afraid of what might happen ahead of Saints’ 1-1 draw with Ipswich.

The Saints boss was hugely frustrated that his side produced a result that now means they face a tricky FA Cup third round replay at Portman Road in between trips to Manchester United and Newcastle.

Koeman named about as strong a team as he could for the St Mary’s clash with the Tractor Boys but despite dominating the game couldn’t get the win.

After the match Koeman was congratulated on still being in the competition but replied: “I don’t understand why you say congratulations. We have to play the replay and that wasn’t what I expect but seriously I was afraid for today’s game.

“We played a lot in the last few weeks, there was a lot of positive attention to everybody at the club after Chelsea, after Arsenal. My experience is always then the next one is very difficult.

“They had an unbelievable spirit in the team, they had 5,000 fans supporting the team and that says everything what the focus was for them for this game.

“I was afraid and the final result is that because we didn’t start well the game. I think we start very sloppy and you know that if you have to change that it’s very difficult.

“I was unhappy about the first 20-25 minutes and they scored the 1-0.

“After that I thought the reaction was very good in the team, we made the 1-1 and made some chances.

“After that I am happy about the game, we had good possibilities, they not, and were a bit unlucky in some important decisions of the referee or the linesman and talk about the fault on Shane on the box. That’s football.

“It wasn’t a good start and it’s difficult to change and I don’t like we have to play the replay but we have to do it.”

Koeman was particularly frustrated about the lack of a penalty as Tyrone Mings felled Shane Long as he was insistent that Saints should have been awarded a penalty rather than a free kick just outside the area.

“I was watching the television after and it’s clear it’s in the box,” he said.

“Maybe the referee can’t see exactly if it’s in or outside the box but the linesman has to see that.”

Koeman was at a loss to explain why Saints started poorly against Ipswich but wasn’t prepared to blame it on tiredness after a busy run of games.

“Maybe that’s less focus, less concentration in the game and if you put 80 per cent and the opponent puts 120 per cent then there’s no difference between Championship and Premier League and we know that and we saw that in the first 20 minutes,” he reasoned.

“To be tired normally it’s a mental question.

“If there is no freshness I will take the player out of the team and I always have a communication with the players so if there is a player who says they are not 100 per cent then he don’t start.

“Only what I said about Toby we took that decision not starting and the rest was feeling well and doing well the training session and there was no reason for me to do more changes.”