Koeman ‘didn’t recognise’ Southampton during defeat

Mark Holmes
Ronald Koeman: Disappointed by Southampton's display

Ronald Koeman: Disappointed by Southampton's display

Ronald Koeman felt Southampton should have had a penalty against Stoke City but admitted his side’s performance merited little.

Bojan scored what proved to be the winner for Stoke after only 10 minutes at St Mary’s on Saturday, but the visitors created several other opportunities to put the game to bed before Philipp Wollscheid felled Graziano Pelle in the penalty area, only for referee Lee Mason to give nothing.

“I don’t understand that, from my distance it was very clear,” said Koeman.

“I don’t know why, from five yards away, the referee doesn’t give a penalty.”

Nevertheless it was a disappointing display from the hosts, summed up by Pelle slicing horribly wide with a couple of minutes to go.

“I didn’t recognise my team, I didn’t recognise the atmosphere in the stadium, maybe because of the circumstances of last week,” Koeman added.

“To beat Stoke you need a high level and extra quality up front, but the whole performance was not the Southampton level. It was strange.”