When Claude Puel dreamed about the start he might make at Saints, it’s fair to say it probably didn’t go along the lines of what has actually occurred.

Two points dropped in the opening home game against Watford, with the record repeating at home to Sunderland, and a defeat at Manchester United in between.

Before the season even began it was obvious that the start was going to be vitally important for a manager whose appointment was met with an element of scepticism from some, at least hope but with a bit to prove for others.

The early results he would have so hoped for have not quite followed.

It is very early days, and Puel has been hampered by the late return of many of his international stars, meaning he never had the luxury of a proper pre-season to get his ideas together and implement them, especially given his decision to change formation and style. The players are learning as they go.

Heading into the international break with a sense of frustration, and a little concern too, is not a happy feeling, because the season hasn’t got hard yet.

When Saints return it’s Arsenal away, and then the Europa League starts and the grind of a real fixture pile-up.

Without a couple of home wins on the board, especially having faced a couple of, with due respect, the Premier League’s poorer sides, there is pressure there.

Puel might feel himself stuck between a rock and a hard place.

You don’t feel having set his stall out he is realistically going to change the system because of a couple of below par results.

But he also needs to make it work double quick, and with many of the players now whisked away to play for their countries for a fortnight it isn’t easy.

At this stage it doesn’t look as though the players have fully adapted to the new system, nor that it suits them all. Certainly it seemed confused against Sunderland, where we saw a high tempo and dominant start descending into a bizarre lack of intensity. The second half was almost that in reverse.

Puel says he believes his style and system will allow the squad to absorb the tough workload they face.

Trouble is, without intensity and pressing, they don’t look like getting wins, and, ultimately, that matters more.

The real problem for Puel is, whether you agree with his ideas or not, he is trying to implement a long term plan in a short term game.

It is admirable in many ways, but if the wins don’t come soon then the pressure will only increase further.

He needs to be given time and patience to get this right, but boy could he have done with getting three points against Sunderland, no matter what the performance, just to give a little breathing space to get it done.

As it turned out the result was pretty fair.

Saints battered Sunderland early on and the Black Cats looked as if they were going to roll over.

However, when Saints failed to take a chance, and then just dropped off, Sunderland started to grow in confidence and warm to the task.

They did get the lead in the end, but were visibly delighted to go home with a point, as Watford had been on the opening day.

Those early stages saw Dusan Tadic fire a wonderful half volley narrowly over the top corner and Charlie Austin played in by the Serbian only to see his early shot saved by rookie keeper Jordan Pickford.

Saints then sat back and Sunderland were the better side for the remainder of the first half and really should have taken the lead on 25 minutes when Lamine Kone headed across goal and wide with a free header six yards out after Patrick van Aanholt’s cross.

After a low key beginning to the second period, Saints found a burst and put Pickford under pressure.

Nathan Redmond, twice, and Shane Long fired in decent efforts from outside the area that the Sunderland keeper had to save.

But disaster struck ten minutes from time as Jermaine Defoe tried to spin in the box but went down under the sliding challenge of Jose Fonte.

Lee Mason pointed to the spot and Defoe stepped up to bury the spot kick into the top corner.

Saints did deserve a point from the game, and got it in slightly fortuitous circumstances five minutes later.

Jay Rodriguez hit a shot from 20 yards that Pickford should have kept out but he somehow dived almost over the ball and it squirmed in off the underside of his body.

Saints were suddenly in total charge and pushing for a winner, showing the sort of intensity that had been so lacking for long periods.

The closest they came was Matt Targett’s free kick which curled wickedly around the outside of the wall but not quite enough to hit the target.

Puel has much to ponder, and will no doubt dream of better things to come when Saints return to first team action after the break.