Southampton boss Russell Martin felt his side didn’t react well enough to the disappointment of conceding during the Blues’ 1-0 win at St Mary’s last night.

Omari Hutchinson’s first senior goal on the half-hour was enough to see the Blues to their fourth win on the road in the Championship this season and their sixth victory out of seven overall.

“There’s not much in the game. We missed the biggest chance in the game and unfortunately, they punished us for a mistake,” Martin told the Daily Echo.

“The one thing I didn’t enjoy was the reaction to the disappointment. The last three games have been defined by how we reacted to disappointment.

“We haven’t reacted well enough at all. The 20 minutes after we conceded were the toughest moments in the match because we weren’t brave enough to keep playing.

“It’s really frustrating to concede a poor goal again but it’s about how we react. The whole place has so much scar tissue, supporters and players – so much disappointment,” he added.

“We don’t react well enough at all to any disappointment. Anyone. I thought the supporters were great in the second half and they stayed with us.

“We had momentum and energy and created a big chance. We didn’t have enough after that but the lads kept going and gave everything.

“We have to stop conceding poor goals, it’s that simple. There will be loads I will be positive about but the overriding feeling is we aren’t together enough in those disappointing moments.”

The former Norwich City skipper added: “It’s down to one thing, courage. We weren’t brave enough. How we bounce back on Saturday will be down to the same thing.

“There wasn’t a problem tactically tonight, both teams were well organised. Ipswich are very good at what they do.

“There’s a reason they’re right up there at the moment but they didn’t cause us a problem until we conceded.

“The group has been fractured and divided really but I don’t think that’s completely solved. In the tough moments, they’re not there for each other yet.

“As the leader and manager, I need to fix that really quickly. The level of scar tissue has been more than I thought.

“When it was all going well, everyone was in a good place and you’re willing to receive the ball and run. However, the first sign of any wobble, and it’s not strong enough yet.

“Not together enough and don’t have enough love for each other on the pitch or around the place, and we have to fix that before we fix anything on the pitch.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Len_Brennan added 11:15 - Sep 20 "There’s a reason they’re right up there at the moment but they didn’t cause us a problem until we conceded." - He must have been gone to the bathroom when we had a goal disallowed for a very soft free out.
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dawoolah added 11:19 - Sep 20 I've watched that disallowed goal over and over and still can't see a foul? If thats given and we then go 0-2 up on 30mins it would have been another thrashing for them.
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ThatMuhrenCross added 11:20 - Sep 20 Didn't cause them a problem - but had a perfectly legitimate goal chalked off, hit the bar and missed from six yards. Don't know what game he was watching!!
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WonTheCupin78 added 11:21 - Sep 20 I don't know whether the Southampton fans can see what was wrong with the first goal either. One of the strangest disallowed goals I've ever seen, a real error.
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Saxonblue74 added 11:38 - Sep 20 If they're going to continue to make that many mistakes they need to get used to disappointment!
5

Saxonblue74 added 11:39 - Sep 20 He seems to be implementing a style that they're not good enough to play
4

itfcserbia added 12:07 - Sep 20 "There’s not much in the game. We missed the biggest chance in the game and unfortunately, they punished us for a mistake." What game was he watching? They had 2 shots from the half-chances the whole first half. We could (and should) have been 3:0 up by halftime. If were more clinical it would've been another thrashing for them.
2

NthQldITFC added 12:56 - Sep 20 I think you'll get used to it sport.
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pennblue added 13:08 - Sep 20 I thought he spoke well after the game (Radio Solent). As much I would like to cast him off as some ex Norwich fool, I think he is probably a decent manager.
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Franzgumm added 13:18 - Sep 20 This is a strange comment. Seems to be big problems there... “Not together enough and don’t have enough love for each other on the pitch or around the place, and we have to fix that before we fix anything on the pitch.”
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BobbyBell added 13:19 - Sep 20 Not only are these comments from Russel Martin laughable but the chat about this match on the Pinkun forums is hilarious. We know how good we are and that's what counts. Twelve points from our first four away matches says something. Let's hope Leicester win tonight as it's the gaps in points below us that I want to see widen. Leicester will be up there challenging in the long run whatever happens tonight.

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Michael101 added 13:46 - Sep 20 Didn't he used to play for Norwich??? Just proves they know nothing about football
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itsonlyme added 14:43 - Sep 20 He has to justify his position! From their point of view they were always in the game whilst it was 1-0! We deserved more than that but to leave another manager pointless is superb! On to the Blackburn game! COYB!
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Europablue added 14:48 - Sep 20 BobbyBell, I'd rather Norwich finished 1st and us 2nd, than be above them in the league and finish 7th!
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blues1 added 14:53 - Sep 20 That muhren cross. We hit the bar after we'd scored, not before
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Flamencaman added 15:06 - Sep 20 Ha why did he walk away from Kieran at the end without shaking his hand bad Canary very bad, basically 1/3 of a new team still beat them lucky it was only one Martin
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BobbyBell added 15:23 - Sep 20 Europablue, I'm just saying that I expect Leicester to be top 2 hopefully with us. I just want a gap to open below us to the other contenders which will probably include the budgies.
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Robert_Garrett added 15:51 - Sep 20 Much better team won with ease and could have had lots more........
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Bert added 17:37 - Sep 20 If he keeps blaming everyone except himself he will have a very unhappy squad and supporters..... if hasn't already !
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BeattiesBackPocket added 09:17 - Sep 21 Well said Lee Brennan he must’ve also missed the fact we should’ve been 3-0 by half time as well. Once a scummer always a scummer
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Europablue added 10:48 - Sep 21 BobbyBell, Leicester look pretty nailed on for that top spot at the moment. Preston won't be able to keep the form up forever, maybe the same could be said of us. Leicester seem really well put together. Teams like ours have the advantage of continuity and it's much easier to get points at the start of the season than after the parachute clubs have settled teams. Leicester have matched our start, if not exceeded it considering the teams they have played. The other parachute teams have already given Leicester too big of a headstart to catch them. I agree though, it is lovely to be 5 points ahead of Norwich. I'd definitely take second now if offered it!

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Rimsy added 12:27 - Sep 21 I kind of agree with Martin. You can see the style he's trying to implement but the players are not comfortable with it yet. Much like when KMc came here, it takes a while. As for his comments on the game, that's just standard manager speak, putting a positive spin on it for their fans.
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happybeingblue added 18:15 - Sep 21 he has matt gill as his number 2,remember him gilly as lambert used to call him! so its like lambert ball loads of posession going no where slowly with couple of shots, he will be gone by halloween!
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