MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl admits 3-1 Everton defeat is “very disappointing” but insists: “it’s a pity that the guys don’t get anything for this game because I think we played better than the result shows.”

Saints stormed Everton into shock during an impressive first-half performance that saw Adam Armstrong open his Premier League account with an emphatic finish.

However, this soon became second-half misery again for Saints as Richarlison, an Abdoulaye Doucoure stunner and Dominic Calvert-Lewin goals completed a turnaround at Goodison Park.

Hasenhuttl’s substitutes didn’t come until as late as the 80th minute, despite a despondent display on the pitch throughout the second period.

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Youngster Tino Livramento’s selection raised eyebrows pre-match with Kyle Walker-Peters dropped to the bench, but he seemed to justify it in some way with a really confident performance against the Toffees side.

But speaking after the game on the result, Hasenhuttl said: “Yeah, it’s very disappointing I think because we had a very good start in this game.

“A good goal, a lot of things we were working on was quite good working. I think we didn’t concede a lot of chances for them for 45 minutes and then we concede a goal after half time.

“The way the corner happened it’s not possible normally in terms of how we concede goals, its too easy. It was very lively here in the stadium, full crowd, a little bit of, yeah, pressure from the opponents.

“We need everybody, it’s important that everybody stays positive even when he wasn’t in the starters today.”

With three debutants including the aforementioned Armstrong and Livramento, French left-back Romain Perraud made up the remainder of the trio.

The Austrian gaffer insists positives can be taken: “What was positive is that the new players are showing that they are helping us.

“Adam scored a goal, Tino played I must say for a young player a very brave game against a good opponent.

“And also Romain on the other side, it was a lively performance from him. It’s a pity that the guys don’t get anything for this game because I think we played better than the result shows.

“But this was a win for Everton and yeah, for us no point.”