Sunday 19 April 2015 11:21, UK
Ronald Koeman admitted Southampton's Champions League dreams are all but over following the 2-1 defeat to Stoke.
The visitors took a deserved lead in the first half through Morgan Schneiderlin, but the Potters equalised through Mame Diouf following an error by Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davis before Charlie Adam snatched the points for the hosts six minutes from time.
The result left Saints sixth in the Premier League - five points behind Manchester City in fourth. City play West Ham on Sunday.
"The distance to fourth place is five points. Maybe (on Sunday) it will be eight," said Koeman. "We are fighting for a Europa League place - that's our Champions League. You have to see it like that.
"It's very difficult to beat the big ones in Premier League because of the players they have and can buy," he said. "Still, I think we are in a very good position. We know our level.
"We try to play good football. That's the quality of the team."
Koeman cut a frustrated figure after the Britannia Stadium defeat though having seen Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic go close while Sadio Mane was flagged for offside after racing through.
"It was a bad decision of the linesman about the offside of Mane," he added. "He was not offside and it was one-on-one with keeper."
Defender Toby Alderweireld was stretchered off in the closing minutes, but Koeman expects him to play again this season.
"Toby looks okay. It's his shoulder. We have to wait until (Sunday) for the scan but he's back on his feet and he will be good, I think."
