Southampton

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Southampton manager Russell Martin has said he does not let the disappointment of their automatic promotion challenge fading change his positive view on his first season at the club.

The Saints lost three games in the space of a week to Cardiff, Championship winners Leicester and Stoke, which ended their chances of a top-two finish - but Martin's side are certain to finish fourth and could still go up via the play-offs.

"Last week was a culmination of a lot of things, fatigue being the main one," Martin said in a news conference before their match against Leeds on Saturday. "I don't think we've had a schedule as busy as that all season.

"I think the last week dampens how people feel about the season and what the players have done, but I feel really proud of the team and what we've done this season.

"I would have loved to finished in the top two and I'll be eternally frustrated that we haven't, but we have an opportunity to get to the Premier League and do it playing our way.

"From the start of the season to now, the players have made incredible strides and their belief in what they're doing is amazing.

"After probably three quarters of the squad were telling me they were going to leave on the first day we were here, with the change in style and culture, if you'd have said at the start of the season that we'd be in this position with three games to get to the Premier League then I would have been quite happy and a bit surprised."

Southampton have one game until they discover their upcoming opponents in the play-off semi-finals after a disastrous conclusion to the season. It has ended any faint hopes of gaining automatic promotion almost immediately after fans started to believe again.

Cian Ashford's 96th-minute sucker punch winner for Cardiff City against Russell Martin's men turned out to be the fatal blow. Alongside Southampton putting in a hopeless display in their 5-0 loss to Leicester City, before an abject outing at home to Stoke City, with the Potters winning 1-0 against a rotated side.

Fans will be hoping that dwindling performances are just part of a poor patch rather than the players losing faith and belief after a good season.

Three straight losses quite rightly has caused concern, especially as there is a desire to go into the play-offs with the utmost confidence, but everyone else is also struggling.

West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United were both thumped in winnable away outings and Norwich City have seemingly stumbled over the line with three draws in four. Hull City look like they will miss out after dropping too many points.

Southampton are far better than the teams below them and can beat anyone on their day.

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Southampton manager Russell Martin says his team have a chance to "create a moment for people to remember for a long time", as he gears up for a tilt at the Championship play-offs.

The Saints lost 5-0 away to league leaders Leicester on Tuesday, effectively confirming they would not reach the Premier League through the automatic promotion spots.

With two games left of the regular season, Martin is already eyeing success, with the Wembley showpiece final set for Sunday, 26 May.

"I have had one experience in this league [Championship] of trying to reach the Premier League through the playoffs," said Martin of his Norwich side in 2015 that beat Middlesbrough.

"I did it as captain and it was one of the best days of my life. I said to the players, we have a chance to create a moment for people to remember together for a long time.

"With their family, friends and loved ones, it is an absolute privilege to have that opportunity and just need to make sure we get there and give everyone that."

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Adam Blackmore has described Southampton's 5-0 defeat to Leicester City as "a tough reality check" for the Saints and has questioned what impact it will have on the team going into the Championship play-offs.

Speaking on BBC Radio Solent's Goin' Home with Adam and Jo podcast, host Adam said: "There is nothing to smile about everybody - that was a tough watch and a tough reality check.

"They were totally outclassed by Leicester and although Russell Martin defended the first hour of the game, even in that time they never had a cutting edge or caused a problem for Leicester goalkeeper Hermansen."

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Southampton were the in-form side in the Championship and secured three successive home wins to heap the pressure on Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Leeds United, but perfection turned to pain with a 2-1 loss against a depleted Cardiff City side on the weekend.

It looked like the Saints would stroll to success after Joe Aribo's opener was followed by numerous clear chances to put the match beyond the Bluebirds before half-time. Nevertheless, more wastefulness up front allowed the hosts back into the contest to steal the victory.

It then went from bad to worse for Southampton, who saw Stuart Armstrong go off with a season-ending injury, with the Scotsman joining Gavin Bazunu on the sidelines after the goalkeeper ruptured his Achilles tendon.

However, disappointment for some gives opportunities to others. It's been a long time since Alex McCarthy was handed the Players' and Fans' Player of the Season award in 2018, and he has spent most of the campaign as the third-choice goalkeeper but has the chance to prove any doubters of his wrong by being a hero as the season reaches its end.

Additionally, Armstrong has only missed one league game and will be missed, although it allows other midfielders the opportunity to prove themselves at this crucial stage.

Harry Tizard, The Saints Score, external

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Southampton boss Russell Martin has taken responsibility for his side not seeing the game out against Cardiff City, but feels they can "bounce back" against Leicester City.

The Saints' automatic promotion hopes suffered a blow on Saturday as they failed to take a number of chances at the Cardiff City stadium and succumbed to a 96th-minute goal that saw them lose 2-1.

Martin's side are now fourth in the table - five points off Ipswich Town in the automatic promotion spot and face a tough challenge heading to leaders Leicester on Tuesday (20:00 BST kick-off).

"On Saturday we created more clear-cut chances than I can remember in any game," Martin said.

"On another day we probably win that game. The quality of football to create those chances was incredible. The frustration and negatives are we then go and lose the game, which I said is unacceptable.

"We didn't see it through and that is my fault. Now I need to make sure the players are ready for what is coming tomorrow and bounce back. The final destination doesn't change of what we want to achieve and how we do it and what we want to do, but how we do it might have to change."

Alongside facing the Foxes, Southampton also host Stoke City in their penultimate game before they travel to a key match against third-place Leeds United on the final day of the season.

"The three games we have now are incredible for us in any way it goes - whatever happens with other results but in preparation for what could be a huge three games at the end of it.

"So it is exciting but it is also frustrating and painful and that is football."

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Former Southampton striker Jo Tessem believes Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Cardiff City was another example of Russell Martin's side spurning chances and not putting a game to bed.

Saints missed a huge opportunity to keep in touch with the automatic promotion places and are now likely to have to settle for a play-off spot.

"It's disappointing," Tessem told the Goin' Home With Adam And Jo podcast. "Football can be cruel sometimes, but when you play in the top leagues you have to have the quality to kill off games.

"It's our season - we haven't been able to kill teams off and win 4-0 or 5-0.

"We were in good form and we were optimistic, so it is really, really disappointing to see this result.

"Before Cardiff's first goal came we were on top of them. We were on top of the game and we were starting to talk about how we were not getting that second goal and if we could defend the lead.

"That's the other side of football - you have to be cynical enough to defend the lead.

"Can Russell Martin do anything with the chances we spurned? No. Could he have done something tactically? Yes, there is always something you can do.

"There are things Martin will question of himself and his players. Maybe the quality of the team is not good enough and fourth is where we belong."

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Southampton boss Russell Martin says he “was not bothered” and “won’t take it personally” after home groundstaff appeared to turn the sprinklers on him before Saturday’s Championship match at Cardiff City.

The Bluebirds secured a first win over a Martin side in six attempts as they came from behind to beat the Saints 2-1 thanks to Cian Ashford’s stoppage-time winner, delivering a hammer blow to Southampton’s automatic promotion bid in the process.

Before the game Martin went over to clap Southampton’s fans - and was sprayed by sprinklers.

After fist-bumping a couple of Cardiff ground-staff, Martin attempted to leave the pitch but was then again in the line of a sprinkler which came on as he went past (and seemed deliberately timed).

The home fans enjoyed the moment and Martin said he understood the ice-cold reception he got as a former Swansea boss who won all four of his south Wales derbies against Cardiff.

"It doesn't really bother me. Obviously I'm not really well liked here," he said.

"They had a good moment at the end. I've had plenty of good moments here, so it's all fine.

"What other way is there [to react]? None of them know me personally, I don't know any of them in the crowd personally, so it would be madness to take it personally.

"They've had their day today, I've had two brilliant days here previously, not today. I'm sure every time I come back here I will get the same treatment."

The ex-Swansea boss – who is being sued by his former club for breach of contract – even found time to praise a Cardiff player.

“I thought Rubin Colwill was really outstanding for them today," he added.

Russell Martin spoke to BBC Radio Wales after Southampton's defeat to Cardiff: "It's unacceptable to lose a game with the amount of chances we had.

"We should have been out of sight. We played some amazing football but it won't matter one bit because we lost. If you're not going to be clinical in their box, then you defend your own.

"Today has done us a lot of harm in terms of chasing the automatic spot, but we have to react properly now. We've got three games left. We can still get more than 90 points.

"I expect a big reaction from everyone. If it means our season is going to be extended, so be it and we have to get ready for that."

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Southampton have confirmed they have "reluctantly agreed" to allow director of football Jason Wilcox to depart and join Manchester United.

Wilcox has long been linked with a role at Old Trafford, since Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos secured a minority takeover at the Manchester club in December 2023.

Southampton will receive a compensation fee.

"Whilst the club is naturally disappointed that Jason’s stay at Southampton has only lasted nine months, it wishes him well for the future," said Southampton in a statement.

"The club will continue to work closely with Russell Martin and his back-room team to ensure they have all the support they require moving forwards."

Manchester United said Wilcox "will work with all technical areas of the football department to achieve the highest standards of performance".

Darren Fletcher will remain at Manchester United as part of the football leadership team working across the men’s first team and academy.

Wilcox will report to the yet-to-be appointed sporting director, who will have overall responsibility for football performance, recruitment and operations.

Dan Ashworth is earmarked for that role, although as yet, no compensation deal has been agreed with Newcastle for his services.

The Championship title and promotion race is incredible.

Leicester were 12 points away at one point and looked like they were going to set all kinds of records. Southampton started off slowly before going on an unbelievable run, dropped off again, and now they are back in with an unbelievable shout because of the performances and the results of the top three.

Ipswich have been relentless to get to where they are and Leeds are now just having a hiccup. From their point of view, what was hard for them at the beginning was all the uncertainty around players and their loan deals and clauses that were written in on relegation. They had a slow start but then they have been incredible since.

There are some amazing games coming up for all those in the title and promotion race and it will be wonderful to watch.

But at the moment it feels like no one wants to win it with the points that are being dropped and you have to say it is the pressure. The pressure is ultimately playing into the race.

If you were to ask me who is going to win the title and who is going to get promoted – I could not call it. You cannot call it because of the results the teams have had and the games they have coming up.

When Leeds were facing a struggling Blackburn at home you would think it was the perfect game for them - and then they lost. Leicester went to Millwall and you thought that would be a game where they could go and get three points and then they didn't.

With the drama still to come in matches they have to play against each other too, it is fascinating.