Kenwyne Jones felt unable to celebrate his first league goal for Saints because it counted for nothing.
The Trinidad and Tobago international outjumped the keeper to head into an unguarded net just before half-time in Tuesday's 3-2 defeat at Luton.
That put Southampton 2-1 up just moments after Luton had levelled - but it proved in vain as the Hatters hit back to snatch victory with almost the last kick of the game.
It was a real sickener for the 1800 travelling fans and for the young striker.
He had netted a hat-trick in the friendly against Anderlecht and bagged goals aplenty last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke - but this was his first league strike for Saints.
He said: "It was nice to get a goal but I cannot rejoice in it because we lost so I cannot be happy.
"It will boost my confidence but scoring in defeats does not really count!
"I was pleased to get my first goal for the club and hopefully there will be a few more and they will count for a bit more.
"It was desperately disappointing to lose after twice being in front.
"It was just down to poor defending and the fact we did not concentrate for 90 minutes. We paid the price for it.
"We got sucked into their game and did not get the ball down and play as we wanted.
"It was a physical battle and they wanted it more. We could have got a point but credit to Luton they were tireless to the end and got their reward."