RALPH Hasenhuttl has credited Stuart Armstrong with bringing the speed and touches that Saints were missing to break down a “very good organized team”.

Saints had to go to extra-time in back-to-back matches versus Championship opponents but were eventual 2-1 victors over Mark Robins’ Coventry City.

It was a sluggish start from Saints, who failed to put any moves together for much of the first-half – meanwhile Sky Blues were cutting Hasenhuttl’s side with ease.

It left supporters inside the ground increasingly frustrated and saw boos ring out on the referee’s whistle, at half-time.

However, after Kyle Walker-Peters and Armstrong were intoeeduced during the break their fortunes slowly began to change.

Asked to assess the clash, Hasenhuttl responded: “Wow, a very tough start I think against a very good organized team.

“Tried to control the game but we did not stress them enough, it is always super difficult to create chances against a 4-5-1.

“You have to play very quick and in the first-half we were missing the good touches to speed up the game in this situation or you never stress them. This is the reason I had to make changes at half-time and Stuey did this better, fantastic and also scored a beautiful goal.”

He continued: “Then you have to drill them all with patience, the rhythm was coming and it was a little it lacking in the first-half after a long time off.

“We added new players on the pitch and in the end the more subs we played the better we did.”