MANAGER Ruben Selles moved to explain why he substituted Charly Alcaraz with his team two goals down and chasing Crystal Palace at St Mary’s.

Ebere Eze had scored both of the visitors’ goals in the second half to put the Eagles in the driving seat but Argentine midfielder Alcaraz had come close to getting one back.

The 20 year old – whom only James Ward-Prowse and Che Adams have scored more Premier League goals than despite him only joining in January – was operating in a fluid forward role for Selles.

He took more shots than any other Saints player (four) and struck the post from range before turning over inside the area in quick succession late in the game.

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However, just moments later, Selles substituted Alcaraz and Kamaldeen Sulemana in the 80th minute and introduced one-goal Stuart Armstrong and goalless Samuel Edozie.

Asked by the Daily Echo, Selles explained: “The reason was because he was starting to show tiredness, not tracking back and leaving us open in the centre.

“This was natural because he was doing a good job in terms of physicality. We wanted to play with Stuart Amstrong in the places in front of the back line.”

Asked if he is concerned by the second-half performance, following Eze’s 54th-minute opener, Selles added: “I think at the beginning of the second half, we as a team didn't match the tempo.

“And that put us behind. It's always a race that we are behind and we need to catch things. We are just in some very stressful moments for us as a team. Those are the moments that we should be able to manage better.”