Ronald Koeman has criticised his own players for their first-half performance against Hull City, claiming that he "didn't recognise" them.
Southampton went on to win the fixture 2-0 but struggled to break the deadlock in the first 45 minutes.
The Dutchman is putting it down to nerves but says that "it was strange" to witness the performance coming from his team.
"I think the second half was a comfortable win after the 2-0 but the first half was not good," Koeman told Southampton's official YouTube channel.
"It was one of the worst 45 minutes of the season at home and that was not good. I think we looked very nervous, that was strange. I didn't recognise my team on the pitch in the first 45 minutes.
"[The] second half was much better and finally it was a good win. I said in half-time the same words what I said here, that I didn't recognise the team. Why were we nervous? We don't have to be nervous, our opponents have to be nervous because they are fighting relegation."
The win moves the Saints up to fifth in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Manchester City.
Sam McEvoy
