Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has said that his side's performance in the opening half of their 2-0 win over Bournemouth was the "best football" that they have played all season.

Steven Davis and Graziano Pelle found the back of the net for the Saints as they stretched their unbeaten run to seven games.

The victory also lifted them up seventh in the Premier League table, with Koeman quick to praise his players for their display at St Mary's.

"The performance was fantastic," Koeman told Sky Sports News. "The first 45 minutes was the best football we have played this season."

"Great ball possession, fantastic movement and great goals - it was the best that the team can play. We learned a little bit from the Leicester game. We defended better, played better than we did against Leicester, but in the second half we lost too many balls, and lost control of the game.

"Every Premier League game is difficult, even at 2-0 up. There is always a reaction from the opponent. We won every battle in the first 45 minutes, but we did not carry that on after the break, but they only had one chance in 90 minutes."

Southampton are back in action next Saturday with a trip to lowly Sunderland.