Football
ESPN staff 9y

Ronald Koeman frustrated with Southampton draw against Tottenham

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman was "disappointed" his side did not clinch all three points as they drew 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Two goals from Graziano Pelle were not enough for Southampton, as Tottenham twice hit back at St Mary's through Erik Lamela and Nacer Chadli.

Koeman's side remain a point behind fifth-placed Spurs in the Premier League table, with the Saints seventh and level on points with Liverpool, who play West Brom this weekend.

The Dutchman told the BBC: "I am a little bit disappointed only to draw, but it was a very good performance in a fantastic football game between two attacking teams.

"I enjoyed it very much and I am proud of my side. We created a little bit more than them and played at a good level, but it is difficult to beat Tottenham."

Lamela's equaliser could easily have been ruled out as it came off the Argentina international's arm, with Chadli ghosting in all-too easily to level a second time.

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman felt Lamela's goal happened too quickly for referee Jon Moss to see the offence in real-time and rued his own side's poor finishing for costing them a win.

"I saw it at half-time," the Dutchman said. "If the referee gets that possibility he would give hand-ball but it was going so fast it is so difficult for him to see exactly what happened. It is difficult but it is hand-ball.

"[Tottenham were] not lucky. We need to shoot more on target, if you don't shoot on target you don't score and that is the quality of Tottenham -- they had one big chance with Chadli and scored -- we had two or three good chances. That is football."

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.

^ Back to Top ^