---
title: "Koeman – We started the game poorly"
canonical: "https://readsouthampton.com/2015/11/21/koeman-started-game-poorly/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Emery"
section: "News"
published: "2015-11-21T18:52:23Z"
modified: "2015-11-21T18:53:34Z"
---

# Koeman – We started the game poorly

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has said [that](https://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20151121-ronald-koeman-post-southampton-stoke-city-2811495.aspx) the defeat today was down to an indifferent atmosphere around the ground coupled with a slow start.

A 10th minute goal from ex-Barcelona forward Bojan gave Stoke the lead when he headed home past Maarten Stekelenburg. It was an unusually lethargic performance from a Saints side that were unbeaten in eight matches.

With games against Manchester City in the league and Liverpool in the league cup last eight, Southampton will have to bounce back from this defeat quickly and produce much more going forward.

However, Koeman has put the performance down the atmosphere around the players and the ground as well as a very poor start from his side that did see Saints go 1-0 down early on and they just couldn’t recover.

![Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readsouthampton.com/readsouthampton/2015/11/4981651922.jpg)

Speaking after his side’s loss, manager Ronald Koeman had this to say:

> I think the first 45 minutes was not good.

> It was not the level what we expect and what we can bring.

> The atmosphere in the stadium was different than normal, my team was different than normal. I felt already before the game a different belief, different atmosphere.

> Not only in the dressing room, but the stadium by everybody. Maybe it’s too easy to talk about that but I know my team, I know my players.

> We started the game poorly because in the first two minutes we lost some easy passing balls and that’s not good for confidence. They looked more comfortable than we were.

**Was this one of the worst performances this season?**