SPEAKING to broadcasters after victory at Stoke City on Tuesday, Saints manager Russell Martin made an intriguing admission.
“I’ve been kicking myself. Maybe we tried to run before we could walk a little bit,” he told Sky Sports.
Saints had been beaten in four consecutive matches due to a succession of mistakes in possession and the concession of soft goals. Martin’s side have now turned that form around with wins over Leeds United and Stoke and they sit in 10th with 16 points from the first 10 league matches
Having conceded 19 goals in the first eight, the clearest improvements are at the back – partnership Jan Bednarek and Taylor Harwood-Bellis shipped just one in the two wins.
As Martin made his way from up into the media suite at Bet365 Stadium, to speak with the Daily Echo, he had time to consider his statement.
Asked to elaborate on trying to “run before we could walk”, Martin admitted: “We lost four games in a row and it was my fault, it’s always the manager’s fault.
“We had such a setback at Sunderland and had to make a change or two at Leicester (City) that wasn’t planned and we did.
“I didn’t drum home some bits that were really important in those games and then we have been slowly recovering since.
“The Ipswich (Town) and Middlesbrough games were slightly better but without getting where we needed to and then that week off was a bit of a reset.”
The boss continued: “We focused on some bits that were costing us and thankfully the players have taken that on brilliantly.
“That’s down to them and their trust in the work we’re doing. They’re growing, they’re really growing as a group so we need to back it up on Saturday.”
Saints will be looking to make it three wins from three when they welcome second-bottom Rotherham to St Mary’s on Saturday, October 7 (3PM).
It would be the first time they have been victorious in three consecutive league matches since November 2020, managed by Ralph Hasenhutll.
