Ronald Koeman said he didn’t recognise his Saints team in the first half of their 1-0 defeat to Stoke.

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The Saints boss admitted there was a strange atmosphere at St Mary’s with increased security and the playing of the French national anthem, all as a result of the attacks on Paris, creating a strange vibe around the ground.

The performance was also very flat from Saints, who were lucky to trail at the break by just one goal, scored by Bojan Krkic after just ten minutes.

Saints were a little better in the second half, and might have had a penalty when Graziano Pelle appeared to have been fouled in the area.

But in the end Saints didn’t really deserve anything from the game with Stoke squandering several late chances to score a second.

Koeman said: “Yes, we know it’s always difficult, but I think it was more difficult now because of what happened last week, because in my opinion I didn’t recognise my team in the first 45 minutes.

“I didn’t recognise the atmosphere in the stadium in the first half, because about all the circumstances what happened last week.

“I think Stoke was more comfortable from the start in the game with some mistakes in ball possession which makes it even more difficult.

Daily Echo:

“Own goal, 1-0 down, but the second half was better. It was more close to the level what we can bring at home. The first 30 minutes good pressing, some good chances, maybe a clear penalty the second situation against Grazinao.

“Also in the last 15-20 minutes the best chances for Stoke to kill the game.

“Difficult. You know to beat Stoke you need a high level, you need extra quality up front, and the whole team performance was not the Southampton level.”