Martin blown away by Southampton support ahead of final

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MAY 17: Southampton fans celebrate during the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi-Final 2nd Leg match between Southampton and West Bromwich Albion at St Mary's Stadium on May 17, 2024 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)

With just one game remaining in their season, Martin has sent out one more call to action to the supporters before a historic match at Wembley. Prior to the 3-1 semi-final second leg victory over West Brom, when the squad bus was greeted by a sea of red and white, flares, singing, and well-wishes two hours before kickoff, the Saints manager expressed his gratitude to the supporters for their support of him and his players. In his play-off final programme notes, which were made available on Southampton’s official club website, Martin talked about that evening and expressed how special that support had been, adding, “The play-offs stir up something unique in all of us.” “The greeting we got when the team coach entered the stadium for our semi-final second leg against West Brom is something that will live with me forever.

 

“That night, just nine days ago, the supporter response blew me away, but we knew it wouldn’t feel like any other game.” Martin continued, “It was an emotional scene, and the vibrant and passionate atmosphere reverberated inside the stadium from well before kick-off and throughout the whole 90 minutes.” Martin then asked one last favor of the club’s supporters at Wembley. Many claimed to have never seen St. Mary’s like that. Please bring that to Wembley today for both yourself and us. The greatest way to fully heal the wounds from previous seasons would be to win at Wembley and return to the Premier League. Southampton supporters will surely be out in force for their team.