Southampton captain Adam Lallana has admitted that it was "disappointing" his side could not maintain the level of performance that saw them go two up against Sunderland in Saturday's 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light.

Lallana said that Saints deserved to go in two goals to the good at the break and that after Sunderland's first goal the momentum swung the way of the Black Cats.

"We were brilliant in the first half," he told the club's official website. "But we were disappointed not to go in two goals ahead.

"We felt that would have knocked the stuffing out of them. They got the goal and it's that type of ground - and they're that type of team - that, when you get a goal, it lifts everyone.

"We're disappointed that we gave them the opportunity to get involved in the game because it could have been three or four in the first half. Maybe that's something we've got to learn from going forward."

Southampton are ninth in the Premier League on 31 points.