Saints may have come from behind to secure an opening day draw at Newcastle but Erwin Koeman admitted to having mixed emotions that his side secured only a point at St James’ Park.

The assistant manager was in charge for the day with brother Ronald laid up at home due to surgery on his injured Achilles.

He was naturally delighted to see Saints go ahead via Graziano Pelle, but less thrilled as Newcastle worked their way back into the game to level things and then take the lead just after half time, only seconds after a great chance for Maya Yoshida had gone begging.

Saints responded well with Shane Long making it 2-2 before Sadio Mane had two good chances late on to nick all three points, leaving Koeman to feel a mixture of emotions.

He said: “It’s not a bad start but if you are a professional, and we are professionals, and you get the chance to win then you have to win.

“That’s our disappointment.

“Ten minutes before the end I thought, ok, a point we are happy with that, but if you see the last ten minutes I think we have to be also disappointed about that.”

He added: “I think we have in the beginning some problems, maybe there was a handball, but after that I think we came better in the game, we make a great goal.

“But finally one minute before the half time deflection from a corner and it’s 1-1 and we start again.

“Of course, in the 48th minute Maya should have made the 1-2. Finally with the first attack on the other side it’s 2-1 and that was a disappointment.

“I think it was a great reaction from the team after that. I think we were the better team.

“We were fully searching for the 2-2. Finally Shane’s header was fantastic for the 2-2 and if you see the last ten minutes, or maybe longer including extra time, then we will, and we are, disappointed about that because we should win and have the game.”

Daily Echo:

Koeman was pleased that Saints were strong towards the end of the game, even if he was frustrated that they couldn’t convert that into a winning goal.

“I have to say we were fit. You saw the last ten minutes,” he said.

“I think they have some problems with us in the last ten minutes and we get some big, big chances.

“Anyway, you have to score for winning and that’s the mixed feelings we have.”