Ronald Koeman was relieved to see Saints get a win against Hull after admitting he didn’t recognise his side in the first 45 minutes.

The Saints boss was stunned to see a lacklustre and nervy start to the game from his team, before they turned it around in the second period to secure the win thanks to a James Ward-Prowse penalty and another from Graziano Pelle.

It was a significant three points too on a weekend that saw Tottenham slip to a surprise defeat at home to Aston Villa.

Koeman admitted he was relieved that his side managed to get the victory.

He said: “In the end yes but it took us a long time that I recognise my team on the pitch. It wasn’t the first 45 minutes.

Daily Echo:

“Hull played well, Hull was the better team, of course we had the better chances and we have to score after one minute and it makes it much more easier.

“Graziano get a good chance, good save of the goalkeeper, but looking nervous. I was disappointed about that and unhappy at half time. If you fight for relegation you have to be nervous but if you fight for something special in the season, why are you nervous?

“We know our qualities and it wasn’t good enough in the first half.”

Daily Echo:

Koeman admitted his delight at Pelle ending a run of 14 games without a Premier League goal.

“Of course,” he smiled. “It’s normal, the last goal was in December. It’s a long time ago.

“It wasn’t a discussion, it wasn’t a question how he is playing because he showed his qualities to be a strong target man but if you are a striker you like to score and you need to score and it will help him a lot the second goal.”

Daily Echo:

It was also a significant strike from the penalty spot from Ward-Prowse, who scored his first for Saints in more than three years and a first ever in the top flight – but only after Koeman ordered Sadio Mane away from the spot kick.

“I was surprised because everybody knows if Prowsey is on the pitch and normally Dusan and they are the first and the second choice to take the penalty,” insisted Koeman.

“I had to shout to Jose to change that because it looks that Sadio take the penalty and Prowsey accept that and I don’t understand that because he knows the first choice.

“It was a difficult situation, a difficult situation, but I had to do it.”