Two points dropped, says Bertrand

Bertrand, who was also an attacking presence throughout the game, was one of few players on the night to test Stoke’s goalkeeper Lee Grant, and the defender conceded that Claude Puel’s men need to do more in front of goal.

“It’s two points lost, rather than a point earned,” he told Southamptonfc.com

“We should have done more tonight and we have to do more in these situations and it’s only us who can sit down and put it right.”

Saints were in control of the game even before the hosts were reduced to ten men with the dismissal of Marko Arnautović for a challenge on Sofiane Boufal, but Bertrand felt the red card altered Stoke’s approach.

“It kind of gave them the signal to just sit back and defend for their lives, but even so, at this level if we want to go to the places we want to go to, then we have to create more and to get a least one chance,” he explained.

“It’s a difficult place to come and many teams will come here and drop points over the course of the season. Historically a point away at Stoke is great, but not the way it happened tonight.”

HISTORICALLY A POINT AWAY AT STOKE IS GREAT, BUT NOT THE WAY IT HAPPENED TONIGHT.

RYAN BERTRAND
SOUTHAMPTON DEFENDER

And while a seventh Premier League clean sheet was welcomed at the other end, Bertrand says there’s plenty to work on. 

“At the training ground, back to the drawing board with a meeting and analyse what we need to do better," he said.

“The onus is on us as players to do more, but also for everyone, players and staff to do more to think of ideas to get that final pass.

“It is the responsibility of the whole team,” he added. “The defenders have a responsibility to try and help out in attack and likewise attackers get back to help defend, but you need everyone to go out first and foremost to do their job.”