MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl insisted Saints could not be hurting any more after succumbing to a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham.

Frontman Danny Ings had put the St Mary’s side ahead after 30 minutes at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, before he was forced off through injury.

Spurs then hit back three minutes later through former Saint Gareth Bale, who curled the ball into the corner after an initial effort had been blocked.

And the game’s big moment game in the 90th minute. Saints substitute Moussa Djenepo was judged to have fouled Sergio Reguilion fractionally inside the box.

Heung-min Son stepped up to coolly convert from the spot and give the hosts all three points.

“I mean, the way we lost the game we cannot be more hurting to be honest,” said Hasenhuttl.

“In the first half we must be three up and in the second half, especially the last 30 minutes, we had not the game we wanted to have.

“The way we give them the goals, it’s always the same issue.

“We don’t clear the ball after the corner, we make a stupid foul around the box in the last minute and then you concede a goal that you normally never can concede.

“Then all the work you put in is then gone and this is hard to take.”

Saints have now lost 12 of their past 15 league contests, as well as suffering defeat in last Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final.