Ronald Koeman says he never thought it was realistic that Saints would qualify for the Champions League.

Saints’ European hopes took another hit as they were beaten 1-0 by West Brom at The Hawthorns, their fifth game in a row without a goal.

As a result hopes of the top four have faded, but after the defeat Koeman admitted he never thought it was a target for Saints.

Daily Echo:

He said: “I was always realistic, never I was thinking we will qualify for the Champions League because a lot of big teams who normally fight for that position on the table.

“We tried to win more points than Southampton did last season and if we play our way of playing then we will see what happens.

“We are not focussed on the position on the table, we are focussed on how we play football.

“That is the best solution. At this time it is still the best solution.”

Daily Echo:

Speaking of the defeat, which came courtesy of Saido Berahino’s strike just over a minute into the game he added: “I think more than a little bit (the early goal was a setback) because we know and we expect how they play out of a good organisation and you know after the fast 1-0 then they defending more, they drop more and then you have to be very good in create because there is no space.

“We saw the game what we expect and much more what we expect after 1-0 after one minute.

“I think the difference was they won much more second balls than we did.

“We try everything but we didn’t create a lot.

Daily Echo:

“I think maybe one big chance of Pelle and the next one a little bit difficult in the battle with the defender.

“The first one I think he missed the ball and difficult and frustrated because we like to win and we like to play football and we like to create and that is more less than before but every time we see the opponent is defending well and waiting his chance and it was a great goal but complain again in our situation.”