Mauricio Pellegrino says Southampton were unlucky in defeat to Stoke

Mauricio Pellegrino felt Southampton were "unlucky" after their narrow 2-1 defeat at Stoke on Saturday.

Peter Crouch's late winner condemned the Saints to their third Premier League defeat from seven matches.

The visitors had Fraser Forster's penalty save from Saido Berahino to thank for keeping them in the game after Mame Biram Diouf's opener and it looked like they had earned a draw when Maya Yoshida fired in an equaliser with 15 minutes remaining.

But Crouch popped up to scramble in Stoke's second, leaving Pellegrino to bemoan Southampton's continuing misfortune in front of goal.

"We were unlucky, we were pushing until the end and we put them under pressure all the time," Pellegrino said. "It's part of football.

"They scored two goals and we scored one, we have to learn for the future. We deserved a little bit more but it's the third or fourth game that we are talking about the same history.

"I can't say anything because our attitude was really good until the end. We were pushing them until the end on their pitch. In one part of the game we were well but in another part we have to keep going."

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Pellegrino praised Forster for his spot-kick save to deny Berahino but admitted the Saints have plenty to work on over the international break.

"It [the penalty save] was a key moment because for us it increased the confidence," he added. "For sure after our goal we were there in the game but I will repeat, at the end the opponent scored the goal and we have to congratulate them.

"It's a difficult situation for us because 50 per cent of the squad are internationals. I have to work with the 50 per cent who remain but it's a good time to reflect, rest and to prepare in the best way for our next game."