Southampton at a crossroads after wasting precious time under Martin
After investing so much time and energy in a possession-based style, Saints are now left to start from scratch
By Sam Hammond for WhoScored
Southampton supporters collectively breathed a sigh of relief when it was confirmed – just over an hour after the final whistle at St Mary’s on Sunday evening – that Russell Martin had been relieved of his duties. Martin had seen his side ship five goals for the second successive home match, with Tottenham racing into a four-goal lead inside 25 minutes. Ange Postecoglou’s side visibly took their foot off the gas in the second half, but, in truth, it could have got even uglier for the hosts.
It was the first time during Martin’s 18-month spell on the south coast that the St Mary’s faithful really made their feelings known to both the head coach and the board, arriving with banners calling for a change to be made before leaving in droves once Pape Sarr had made it 4-0 to Spurs. It got so personal at one stage that supporters in the Northam Stand, home to the most vocal matchgoers, chanted for Martin to give them a wave before meeting his response with a boo.
