Stoke boss Mark Hughes admitted he was ‘puzzled’ as to why Claude Puel was getting booed by Saints fans.

The former Saints striker managed his side to a 1-0 final day victory at St Mary’s to end the season in 13th, five places behind Puel’s men.

Hughes believes Puel has done a good job and thinks that expectations may have risen a little too high on the south coast if eighth is deemed not good enough.

He said: “It is a little bit puzzling. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think they are eighth. Goodness me.

“Maybe it is the expectation. When you raise the expectation – and Southampton have been excellent for a number of years now – expectation levels rise and people think they are disappointed but if you look at it in the whole, maybe they haven't done as bad as people are making out. Sometimes you can't understand it really.”