Harwood-Bellis: ‘It’s not a reflection of the manager or the staff’

Saints, winless in the Premier League this season, saw themselves 3-0 down in the first half before Harwood-Bellis pulled one back early in the second half. The England youth international confessed Saints were punished for switching off and admitted their reaction to conceding was not good enough. Harwood-Bellis saw the positives in Southampton's second half performance, during which he felt they looked more like a team they want to be. He told the Daily Echo: "We started well but our reaction to the goal was not good enough. Then we came out in the second half and we played how we wanted to play. "We were a team that we wanted to be. We hurt them, and we look more like a team, more of a threat, and we defend properly. "As you see, we didn't concede in the second half and we scored a goal. I think that just shows that we take our foot off the gas and when we come off it a little bit, we get punished. "It was a quick free kick. I kind of turned my back and he's done that. That's what happens in the Premier League. "That's the MOMENT they've been waiting for." 🔥Evanilson nets the opener and scores his first goal for Bournemouth! 🍒 pic.twitter.com/GITPfkF91p — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 30, 2024 "As I said, you switch off for a second and you get punished. I think it's the quality of it. Obviously, for us as a team, that's not good enough, the reaction. "But as I said, we come out second half and put the performance in, and do what the manager's asking us to do.  "You see we can win games. We've just got to look at that first half coming together as players. It's not a reflection of the manager or the staff. "That's far from what we want for them. That's not them, they give us everything. So, to come out, it's hugely disappointing and frustrating to show that that's what we put out." Saints started without a recognised forward before introducing Ben Brereton Diaz and Ross Stewart at the break. The chance resulted in them creating more chances, however, Harwood-Bellis was adamant the defeat was not down to team selection.  "I think it's the way we played," he continued. "That's us. We had people in the positions first half and we weren't clean with the ball, and we didn't defend properly. "It's nothing about the tactic or the team the manager picks. I think if you look at that team, we have more than enough to win that game. Definitely not be 3-0 down. "The players that come on were excellent. They give us a lot going forward and a lot of running - that did help, but in the first half, that's down to us and how we play, nothing to do with selection. "I'd rather not score and not concede three. It's stuff I've been working on in training, just trying to be more of a threat in the box. I wouldn't say I'm happy by any stretch of the imagination."