If this was to be Claude Puel’s swansong, then what a sad way to bow out.

Fitting, some will say, and in the context of recent home matches it would be hard to argue.

A lack of goals at St Mary’s has morphed from an aliment to an epidemic.

To finish the campaign without a single goal in five consecutive St Mary’s matches, a total of 455 minutes, has been as bad as it sounds.

And to lose the last match against a Stoke team who for most of the game looked to be there for the taking was doubly disappointing.

It seemed in this one last game that it didn’t matter what Saints did, there was no way the ball was going to hit the back of the Stoke net, and it duly didn’t.

Once more Puel was looking on from his technical area wondering just what he had to do to get a bit of luck.

Well, goals from elsewhere did the job, as Saints still ended the season in eighth, giving Puel at least something to point to, as well, of course as the EFL Cup final, as justification as to why he should continue in his job.

But it is looking tough for him. To lose either the players or the fans is a brutal blow, and one that is hard to recover from.

As the supporters started to chant ‘you don’t what you’re doing’ at Puel after one of his booed substitutions - now par for the course – it seemed certain at least one of those boxes was ticked.

It would require a show of strength from Les Reed to keep Puel for the long term now, as he discussed doing as recently as January.

It seems Saints can’t live with their managers and can’t live without them.

While Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman were branded turncoats, Puel could be set to suffer the opposite fate, that despite finishing eighth and a trip to Wembley in a gruelling 53 game season.

That it ended with such a whimper was depressing, and the sort of performance that could cost Puel dearly.

Stoke started as they didn’t seem desperate to go on with a shot on target after just 19 seconds.

Mame Biram Diouf tested Fraser Forster with a drive from a tight angle that the big keeper blocked at his near post after Stoke had closed down Jack Stephens’ attempted ball forward from the kick-off.

After that the majority of the first half belonged to Saints.

They seemed more effective with Charlie Austin restored to the team, but once again the problem was turning possession into chances, and goals, with so much of their neat play in front of a Stoke team content to sit deep and run the clock down from early on.

James Ward-Prowse’s inswinging free kick found Jack Stephens at the far post, but he sliced his shot in the wrong direction.

Saints were undoubtedly more threatening when they worked the wide areas, with Ryan Bertrand’s marauding runs forward from left back causing problems.

His low cross into the six yard box was met by the sliding Austin at the near post but he couldn’t direct on target before a late flurry in the closing stages of the half.

Saints were grateful for Cedric Soares retreating to head off the line to clear from Diouf before Nathan Redmond got unlucky, robbing the hesitant Jack Butland of the ball outside the area before trying a lobbed shot from 35 yards that dipped onto the top of the bar.

Things went from frustrating to worse on the hour mark as Peter Crouch grabbed what proved to be the winning goal, his looping header finding Forster unable to react.

The St Mary’s atmosphere started to turn toxic as Puel rung the changes, all booed, the manager’s abilities abused and a chant of ‘if anyone scores, we’re on the pitch’ just about summing it all up.

Saints finished the season with a rally but just couldn’t get a goal.

Oriol Romeu’s cutback from the left by-line saw Butland produced two inspired saves to keep out first Steven Davis and then Ward-Prowse.

You knew there was no chance of a goal ten minutes from time when Manolo Gabbiadini got in behind, Butland slipped and the striker still fired into his legs.

Butland saved from Sofiane Boufal, Gabbiadini and Romeu in a forlorn last stand for Saints.

St Mary’s was virtually empty by the time the players emerged for their lap of appreciation.

Puel received a mixture of applause and boos, often at the same time from the same people, or so it seemed.

For the fans it most certainly looks as though ‘not good enough’ is the message. The league finish will not paper over the cracks. It’s over to the board now to see if they agree.

Other than failing to make it out of the group stages of the Europa League, Puel hit the targets he was set. Not emphatically it has to be said in terms of the top flight, but he hit them nonetheless.

If there is to be a final nail, it will be the style of football, the lack of enjoyment, and, most importantly, goals at St Mary’s – just 17 all season.

The most damning indictment is the relief and delight that this season has finally came to an end. Nobody wants more of it.

What a sorry way to finish.