Jack Stephens conceded Southampton have "fallen way short of expectations" after their relegation from the Premier League was confirmed after defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Saints are the first side in the division's history to be relegated with seven games still to play, as a 3-1 loss at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium consigned Ivan Juric's side to an immediate return to the Championship.

Having only been relegated two times in their first 45 seasons in the English top flight, Southampton have now been relegated in two successive Premier League campaigns.

They are also the third team to lose as many as 25 of their first 31 games of a top-flight season, after Sunderland in 2005-06 and Sheffield United in 2020-21 (both also 25).

Nevertheless, the visiting players received a tremendous reception from their travelling supporters after the final whistle, albeit Saints skipper Stephens feels it was unjustified.

"I've never experienced anything like today. We didn't deserve the reception that we got at the end there," he told the club's official website.

"We know how frustrated they will be. We know how disappointed and upset they'll be, like we are, but for them to be so loud, so supportive.

"That doesn't go unnoticed in the dressing room, and I'll be forever grateful for that response from them.

"Obviously, now it's been confirmed, it's really tough for us to take. We're fully aware that we've been nowhere near good enough this season, and we're really disappointed in the dressing room that we weren't able to do ourselves justice this season.

"We had really high expectations, we were very demanding of each other, but we've fallen well short of expectations."

Ivan Juric also saluted Southampton's fans for their "exceptional" support during a difficult campaign.

The head coach believes the players can use their backing as motivation to secure an immediate return to the Premier League next season.

"We know it's a tough moment, a bad moment," he said. "But in another way, I think the future of Southampton will be great, with the fans. 

"All this season - a bad season - they were exceptional. "We are relegated, but they have shown a lot to their club, to the players they have. 

"I think it has to be really motivating for everybody to create something really good; much stronger than we created this year.

"We are disappointed. What went wrong? Did we give everything that we can in this one year, or can we do some things better? It has to be a big school for everybody."