SAINTS crashed out of the Europa League tonight after they were beaten 1-0 in the second leg of their play-off tie with FC Midtjylland.
The Danish champions advanced to the group stages at the expense of Ronald Koeman’s side after a 2-1 aggregate victory that was well deserved on their part.
Saints were lacking in imagination at the MCH Arena, and defeat seemed almost inevitable after Morten Rasmussen’s 28th-minute strike sent the home crowd wild.
After a stuttering start to the Premier League season, this latest disappointment leaves the club in need of something to ignite their season quickly, with Sunday’s home match against a promoted Norwich team taking on extra significance.
There were three changes from the side that drew with Watford at the weekend, as Cuco Martina, James Ward-Prowse and Jay Rodriguez came in.
Cedric Soares and Sadio Mane, who was recovering from a hip injury, dropped to the bench, while Victor Wanyama was absent with a stomach infection, as Koeman went with a 5-3-2 formation.
In the fourth minute, Saints so nearly got the goal they needed, when Jose Fonte met James Ward-Prowse’s corner with a diving header that was nodded off the line by Jakob Poulsen.
Two minutes later, another good chance went begging, as an angled ball over the top picked out the run of Jay Rodriguez, who, rather than shooting, opted to square to Ward-Prowse, whose strike was blocked inside the area by Erik Sviatchenko.
Midtjylland, with an away goal to their name, were unsurprisingly sitting deep from the start, and Saints continued to press as the half wore on.
Rodriguez fired over from 18 yards, while Ward-Prowse tested keeper Johan Dahlin from 25 yards, before a brilliant opportunity arrived in the 22nd minute.
Steven Caulker angled in a cross from the right, with Graziano Pelle knocking it down into the path of Steven Davis inside the area, only for his well-struck shot to be turned away by Dahlin.
It looked as though a goal would come, and one did indeed arrive in the 28th minute – only for the hosts to get it.
Rodriguez wanted a foul as he attempted to hold off a Midtjylland player out by the touchline near his own area.
The Saints forward went to ground, only to be denied a free-kick by the referee, before losing the ball to Bach Bak. He then slipped a pass into Rasmussen, who beat Maarten Stekelenburg from close range with a low shot across goal.
Rodriguez did have a chance to atone shortly before half-time, as he met Cuco Martina’s driven cross, but his angled header was saved by a diving Dahlin.
Despite the situation, Koeman opted not to make any changes at half-time, and he nearly saw his side fall two goals behind shortly after the restart.
Jesper Lauridsen swung in a free-kick from deep that found Rasmussen, but his header skidded just wide of the near post.
Saints were crying out for some composure and creativity in the final third, and Koeman sought to provide that by sending Dusan Tadic on for Caulker on the 56th minute.
The midfielder had an immediate impact, winning the ball down the inside left, beating a defender brilliantly, before curling a right-foot shot wide from 25 yards.
Martina then had to make an important block from Petter Andersson, after he was picked out in space at the back post from Pione Sisto’s right-wing cross.
Saints were really struggling as the game wore on, and Koeman made another change to try and alter the game, throwing on Shane Long for Rodriguez with 15 minutes left.
The tie was nearly put completely beyond Saints reach, though, with nine minutes left, as Daniel Royer and Martin Pusic played a brilliant one-two inside the area, with Royer then sending a right-footed shot inches over the bar.
Moments later, Juanmi was sent on for Steven Davis, but the change had little to no effect, as Midtjylland ended up holding on with a relative degree of comfort.
SAINTS: Stekelenburg, Martina, Yoshida, Fonte, Caulker (Tadic 56), Targett, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, S Davis (Juanmi 82), Rodriguez (Long 75), Pelle.
Unused subs: K Davis, Cedric, Reed, Mane.
Booked: Rodriguez, Targett.
FC MIDTJYLLAND: Dahlin, Bach Bak (Romer 83), Hansen, Sviatchenko, Lauridsen, Sparv, Sisto (Hassan 68), Andersson (Pusic 80), Poulsen, Royer, Rasmussen.
Subs: Andersen, Olsson, Onuachu, Banggaard.
Booked: Poulsen, Sparv.
Referee: Liran Liany.
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