‘No aggression, no courage’ – Southampton boss Martin says he didn’t recognise his team

Southampton manager Russell Martin says he ‘didn’t recognise’ his side in the first half of their 3-1 defeat at Bournemouth which leaves them 19th in the early table.

Goals from Evanilson, Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo put the game beyond the Saints before half time.

And while Martin – who made a triple change at the break – saw an improved display in the second half and a goal from Taylor Harwood-Bellis, defeat means Southampton have now gone 19 Premier League games without a win.

“I’m so hurt by the first-half performance after the first goal – I didn’t recognise our team,” he told Sky Sports.

“Normally I’m proud of them for the courage they show, but there was no aggression, no courage, no intensity to play. They were in self-preservation mode on the pitch and the body language I didn’t recognise.

“I didn’t recognise them and I didn’t like it one bit. In the second half we showed a lot of fight and courage but it was too late. It’s on me to give them the tools to come back from a setback but we have not learned from the Manchester United game two weeks ago and that’s a problem.

“We were soft. If you do not run and fight, make contact and take things personally then it’s going to be a problem.”

Southampton are above bottom side Wolves on goal difference and face Arsenal and Manchester City in their next two away games.

“I didn’t get this far as a player or a manager on just talent, it’s about mentality and I’ve not passed that on enough to the players,” Martin added.

“At half time I asked if they could please show they wanted to run and fight for us as a group, the staff and for each other. At least they did that, and that takes a bit of courage, so I thank them for that but I shouldn’t be thanking my team for fighting and running.”