Mauricio Pellegrino insisted he will continue to make what he believes to be the best decisions for the team and not purely to please the crowd.

Saints ended a run of nine matches without a win as they defeated Fulham 1-0 in the FA Cup third round at Craven Cottage.

However, Pellegrino was booed and had chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ directed at him from a large section of the 5,000 strong travelling support when he replaced Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg with Mario Lemina ten minutes from time.

Pellegrino defended the right of the fans to have their say, but was adamant he would continue to do what he thinks is best.

He said: “When I make a change I think it’s the best for the team.

“Sometimes you are playing well like Sofiane who was doing a good game, but when you are playing a bit and the opponent was dominating you you need fresh people.

“This was my vision and when I do the change I try to do the best for my team.”

He added: “It’s difficult to talk about everybody, because in this room we are 20 people and nobody has got the same opinion about football - how to play, who has to play.

“Everybody in football can express their opinion and we have to respect this.”

When asked whether he was upset with the reaction that came his way in a game Saints were winning, he replied: “No, because it’s part of our life.”

Certainly the reaction of the Saints fans, who sold-out the away end at Fulham as they travelled in huge numbers to support the team, proved an unwelcome distraction after the game.

The focus switched immediately back onto Pellegrino and the disgruntlement towards him from sections of the fan base, rather than highlighting a much needed victory, and a passage into the fourth round draw.

Pellegrino needs more victories if he is to win around the fans, but insisted he had no problem with them, and that he is grateful for the support he has received.

“I think the fans with us and with the team were great from the beginning until the end and from the first game until today I cannot complain against anything,” he said.

“I have to be grateful about the mood in our stadium and away because they have been behind us all the time.

“I understand the fans have their opinion but when I do something I am thinking about the players and not the fans.

“I am thinking about my experience and what is best for this moment.”