SAINTS defender Radhi Jaidi admitted the team’s below-par performance at Prenton Park had come as a surprise to him.

Nigel Adkins’ promotion-chasing side were deservedly beaten 2-0 by League One strugglers Tranmere on a disappointing day in Merseyside.

The result ended a six-match unbeaten run for Saints, and also means they still haven’t won at Rovers since 1959.

But it was the display, as much as the scoreline, that irked Jaidi.

“It was very frustrating, none of us saw that bad performance coming,” said the towering centre half.

“We didn’t manage to sort it out the first half and we conceded bad goals.

“This kind of game and these pitches we play on we need to be at our top level to win the three points.

“I think in this league all the atmospheres are the same in the away stadiums, so we need to be ready and everybody needs to focus on their own performance and add something in these kind of games.

“We tried to play our football, but, as I said, we didn’t find any space to play.

“All the time they were first to the ball and they won the second ball.

“We let them play and conceded some bad goals.”