Jan Poortvliet felt his side were undone by crucial decisions rather than poor play in their 4-1 defeat at QPR.

The Saints head coach threw Ollie Lancashire in for his debut but saw him last just half an hour before a debatable sending off while his side, who also lost Lee Holmes to injury, conceded a crucial goal that was clearly offside.

Pressure is now mounting on Saints ahead of a St Mary’s double header against Ipswich and Barnsley where they really need to add to the three points they have picked up from five Championship games this season.

He said: “I don’t think this had anything to do with the football but it had to do with decisions, with moments.

“When you play an hour with ten men an easy game is not possible.

“I think honestly we can give more and even more when we don’t have the ball.

“You see what happened with Lee – when they go for the ball they go for the ball and the body and we only go for the ball and we have to learn that.”

He continued: “I think we started not well. When you concede a goal after one minute it’s not good enough.

“It was a pity but we picked up the game and looked better and better.

“We were in the game before the red card - even though we hadn’t had many chances it was coming.

Full story in today's Daily Echo