Ronald Koeman: 'We should have killed game off'

Ronald Koeman has said that Southampton were again guilty of not killing the game off as they fell to a 1-0 Premier League defeat at Burnley on Saturday.

The Saints missed a second-half penalty before Ashley Barnes bagged a winner for the Clarets which condemned Koeman's side to a fourth straight defeat.

The Dutchman frustratingly admitted that the only "small detail" between now and the Southampton side which had climbed to second in the table is their inability to convert chances, and that is making things difficult for them.

"Again the same story as last Monday against Manchester United", he told reporters. "We had more chances, missed a penalty and one of our mistakes ended in 1-0. In my opinion, football is not that difficult but you can make it difficult.

"The difference between when we were winning games and are now losing them is a small detail like not punishing the opponent in a key moment like today. Also, doing more defensive mistakes.

"After a difficult start to the game, little by little we controlled the game. The story is to kill the game and we didn't. We paid for that. Everyone can make mistakes but too many goals in the last few games are from our own mistakes. We had enough chances to score but we didn't."

Dusan Tadic's wasted penalty was the first time that a Saints player has missed from the spot in 29 Premier League attempts.