Southampton manager Claude Puel again rued his team's impotence in front of goal after their 1-0 Europa League defeat at Sparta Prague.
On an evening where they hoped to secure their progress to the competition's knockout stages, they went behind in the 11th minute and rarely looked capable of the comeback that would have earned them first place in Group K.
Puel's team have won only two of their past eight fixtures and there is no suspicion they are short of talent. The manager had already discussed their need to turn possession into goals, but on this occasion there was also a lack of aggression.