CAPTAIN James Ward-Prowse insisted Saints will become "better and bigger" from their Wembley FA Cup semi-final defeat to Leicester City.

Saints' hopes of lifting the trophy for just the second time in the club's history was shattered as Kelechi Iheanacho's strike earned the Foxes a 1-0 victory.

Ralph Hasenhuttl's men failed test Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel throughout the entirety of the contest, with Iheanacho's shot the only time the Foxes hit the target in a tight affair.

Asked how difficult it was to take being edged out in a game which meant so much to the club, Ward-Prowse told the Daily Echo: "Of course it’s a tough one. To play in the semi-final of the cup is a special game to be involved in and we knew what was waiting for us if we had a positive result.

"So to fall at this hurdle is obviously disappointing, but I think it’s an experience we can all learn from or be better and bigger from.

"We have to look to take the positives, but equally we know what we could’ve done better."

He added: "I think the last bit, the final third I think could’ve been better for us. I think we were solid defensively and that’s something we wanted to address after the last result. But some days you have it and it doesn’t quite fall for you. The way they scored their goal was unfortunate for us. 

"I think if it would’ve just missed it would’ve gone wide and all would’ve been well. But unfortunately it wasn’t to be. We have to learn from it and work on the training pitch on some things that can make it better."