Ronald Koeman feared for Saints as early as their pre-match warm-up as their unbeaten run was ended by Stoke.

Saints started poorly against the Potters, and ultimately paid the price as they were defeated 1-0 at St Mary’s with Bojan Krkic scoring the only goal of the game after ten minutes.

The side were lacking their usual intensity and sharpness in the first half, and Koeman admitted the signs were there during the warm-up.

When asked to explain the first half display, Koeman said: “I don’t know. Strange.

“I spoke to Sammy (Lee), I spoke to Erwin (Koeman) already and the warming up was not that what we need, how we have to start.

“If you start the game and within two minutes you lost three times easy balls in your ball possession it is even more difficult.”

The whole stadium seemed a little subdued, with increased security checks and the playing of the French national anthem to show solidarity to the victims of the Paris attacks all creating a strange atmosphere.

Koeman added: “Yes, we know it’s always difficult, but I think it was more difficult now because of what happened last week, because in my opinion I didn’t recognise my team in the first 45 minutes. I didn’t recognise the atmosphere in the stadium in the first half, because about all the circumstances what happened last week.

“I think Stoke was more comfortable from the start in the game with some mistakes in ball possession which makes it even more difficult.

“Own goal, 1-0 down, but the second half was better. It was more close to the level what we can bring at home. The first 30 minutes good pressing, some good chances, maybe a clear penalty the second situation against Graziano.

“Also in the last 15-20 minutes the best chances for Stoke to kill the game.

“Difficult. You know to beat Stoke you need a high level, you need extra quality up front, and the whole team performance was not the Southampton level.”

Saints were better in the second half, but despite that they never seriously worked Jack Butland in the Stoke goal.

Indeed, as Saints poured forward late on it was the visitors who looked the more likely to grab another goal.

“Ok, you know if a lot of people in the box you need really high quality to break it open or break it down,” reflected Koeman of his team’s attacking efforts.

“We didn’t have that really that top quality, not in the crosses, not in the last passing, not in our shots, and compliment to them because they are defending well.”