Southampton boss Ronald Koeman believes wholesale changes to his defensive unit are to blame for his side's slow start to the season.

"Expectation was different last season than for this season," he said.

"I knew already maybe there was a problem because, if you talk about the defensive strengths of the Southampton team we had last season and a big part of keeping cleans, you are taking about certain positions - goalkeeper, four defenders and two controlling midfield players.

"Some asked me about Schneiderlin - he was just one of five different players (missing) in those positions last Saturday. It's normal that you will lose something - the new players need time in that position, the team needs time to develop and have the same strengths as last season.

"If you're missing five of the seven that is one of the reasons we have already got five goals against us in two Premier League games. In Europe we showed our strengths in offence against Vitesse (in the last round) but tomorrow's game will be more difficult.

"You need really good organisation, we lost some qualities to that organisation but I believe in the new players, we need time and we need to develop and learn, we need training sessions."