Koeman hails Pelle's amazing match winner

Ronald Koeman believes Graziano Pelle might have scored the goal of the season to deliver his Saints team another win that keeps them second in the Premier League table.

The Italian striker struck a wonder goal only moments after Charlie Austin had brilliantly equalised for QPR.

It proved to be the winner as Saints won 2-1 at St Mary’s.

Koeman said: “It was a great finish.

“It will be one of the best goals of the season and still more impotent because it was 2-1.

“Out of the goals I am happy about his performance from the start of the season because he showed his qualities and his personality and he’s always to keep the ball for the team and we can push up with him.

“That’s important for the team and how we play.

“If you score like this you can’t do it better.”

It was another good win for Saints and another good display that keeps their early season bandwagon going.

“Of course you like more easy wins but we knew before the game that it will be tough and they complain a lot in the first half,” added Koeman.

“In the first half they played out of good defensive organisation.

“I think we missed a bit of sharpness in the box but we said if we keep a clean sheet behind we are always in shape to create opportunities.

“It was 1-0 after the half time but I think all the credit to QPR because they played a fantastic second half and the second half was on a high level in all the things that football means and after 2-1 I think we had to kill the game.

“We had two big chances from Dusan Tadic and we had to score the 3-1 and if you don’t score the 3-1 you know it’s tough until the end of the game because they played with a lot of forwards and long balls and it was difficult.

“Credit to the players because this was a working, winning game, and if you show that character after the win of last Tuesday for me as a manager that means a lot about the ambition and the squad that they showed.”