RALPH Hasenhuttl admitted frustration that “the opponent was not really that good today” yet Saints still slipped to a 2-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace.
Oriol Romeu headed Saints into an early lead but a second-half goal by Eberechi Eze presented substitute Wilfried Zaha with the chance to net the winner in added time.
It was a flat contest but Palace were the team that looked like threatening following the interval, with Stuart Armstrong the only Saints player who had an opportunity to score – blazing over in the final 10 minutes.
The visitors registered 61 per cent possession, six more shots and an additional corner to Saints. However, Hasenhuttl felt the match was there for the taking.
“I think we didn’t see a very good game today,” he said, speaking after the match. “Two teams who haven’t played on their highest level.
“The little better one, if you want the team with a little better subs today, made the difference. For us, a very disappointing day because we had a big chance after a good start but couldn’t hold the level.
“The level is a bit much to say, there wasn’t much of a level to this game, but by the end you can still win it and this is the most disappointing part.”
Hasenhuttl continued: “We have full knowledge that we can play much better football than we are doing at the moment, we have shown that this season.
“Also the opponent was not really that good today but at the moment all teams are looking for results and we couldn’t manage it today, it’s not nice to watch and this is the disappointing thing for me.”
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