Eight just great for shocked Saints boss Ronald Koeman

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman said he was “in shock” after his side continued their outstanding start to the season with an 8-0 thrashing of Sunderland at St Mary’s.

Counterpart Gus Poyet called it the “most embarrassing (moment) I’ve had on a football pitch”.

The win fell one goal short of Manchester United’s record 9-0 triumph over Ipswich in 1995 and maintained the south coast club’s remarkable start to the season under Koeman.

Prior to the campaign, many pundits predicted the Saints would struggle after manager Mauricio Pochettino joined Tottenham Hotspur, while key players such as Luke Shaw, Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Calum Chambers also moved to rival Premier League clubs.

But Koeman has done more than stop the rot, with this victory leaving Southampton third in the table, with only champions Manchester City and leaders Chelsea above them in the standings.

Graziano Pelle’s double, as well as goals from Jack Cork, Dusan Tadic, Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mane, plus two Sunderland own-goals, saw Southampton to their biggest-ever victory in English top-flight football.