BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl praised his side's defensive efforts against Leicester City, describing the winning strike as "unlucky".

Kelechi Iheanacho scored the only goal at Wembley as the Foxes progressed into the FA Cup final.

After connecting with a Jamie Vardy cross, Iheanacho's initial effort was heading wide, only to rebound off Jannik Vestergaard back into his path, and he made no mistake at the second time of asking.

It was the first time Saints had conceded in the FA Cup this season, after clean sheets against Shrewsbury Town, Arsenal, Wolves and Bournemouth.

That proved to be Leicester's only shot on target in the contest, while Saints failed to work Foxes stopper Kasper Schmeichel throughout the 90 minutes.

"Defensively it was really good what we did today against a strong side," said Hasenhuttl.

"The goal we conceded, everybody saw it. It is unlucky. The ball normally goes wide past the goal and then it hits our player and goes back.

"It’s a pity when such a goal decides such a game. But this is football and we had only conceded one goal in the whole FA Cup and that was when we dropped out. We have to accept it and come back next year."

He added: "Sure it hurts, especially the way we conceded the goal. It was a chance where Vardy was gone, but normally the shot is gone and then it hits our players and he gets another one.

"It’s very disappointing to concede a goal like this. We didn’t give them a lot of chances to be honest until the first goal I think.

"Especially in the second half, in the beginning we have been really good in the game, but such situations decide these games, but this is football and we have to accept it."