Claude Puel praises Southampton's attitude after his first Premier League win

By PA Sport

Sunday 18 September 2016 19:11, UK

Southampton boss Claude Puel was relieved to end his wait for a first Premier League win, as Charlie Austin climbed off the bench to secure a 1-0 victory to lift Saints out of the bottom three.

Austin - back among the substitutes despite his two-goal heroics in the Europa League win over Sparta Prague on Thursday evening at St Mary's - watched his team-mates spurn a host of chances.

Nathan Redmond was the chief culprit with some glaring misses, including one from just eight yards.

But Austin had been on for just 10 minutes - and already hit the crossbar - when he controlled Dusan Tadic's deflected cross and hammered it into the net.

"It's a good feeling," admitted Puel. "Also it's very important for my players.

"It's difficult when you don't score from all those chances. But congratulations to my players - they kept a good attitude, a good spirit and a good structure to create those chances.

"To finish with a victory is very important for the confidence."