Mauricio Pellegrino took his share of the responsibility for Saints’ inability to defeat Newcastle at St Mary’s.

The Saints boss saw his side twice come from behind to salvage a point against the Magpies, with Manolo Gabbiadini proving the hero as he netted both the goals in the 2-2 draw.

Saints did at least bag a point from the game, but were hoping for more, and Pellegrino felt his instructions to the players to play more direct in the second half may not have helped his side as much as he wished.

He said: “We get the point. Thinking about it was a chaotic game and after we equalise I think we concede too quick and a soft goal because we have to be more clever in this type of action after being behind in the score a lot of time. We have to be better organised.

“I think the anxiety to try to score the second sometimes you lost control.

“Maybe that is my responsibility because I tell my players we have to play more direct in the second half to try to create something close to the box because Newcastle defensively are really good and close the penetrating passes really well and sometimes you have to break the game, to be a little bit chaotic to try and create something.”

Pellegrino spoke before the match about the fact he felt the team had problems in areas other than just scoring goals, which has taken all the attention of late.

He was proved correct on this occasion as Saints scored twice at home, and yet it was not enough to grab a victory against a midtable side, with both of the goals they conceded being on the soft side, and one coming just two minutes after their first equaliser.

“My feeling is that we never could control the game totally,” admitted Pellegrino.

“I repeat maybe that is my responsibility because I tell the players that we have to break the game to do something different because the last game for Newcastle against Liverpool they couldn’t create too much. I was thinking about diagonal balls and be there with Dusan, Shane and Manolo.

“I think we did ok in some moments but we have to be more clever to defend better.”

Saints might have had a better chance to dominate the game had DeAndre Yedlin been sent off by Kevin Friend for what looked like a second bookable offence.

However, the referee took a lenient approach and instead offered the Newcastle right back a stern warning instead.

“It’s part of the game,” reflected Pellegrino.

“I have to respect the decision of the referee.

“Sometimes it is for us, sometimes for the other, but I can’t say anything.”