Southampton coach Russell Martin criticized his team for their lack of fighting spirit during a disappointing 3-1 defeat to south-coast rivals Bournemouth on Monday. He acknowledged that he has more work to do to lift them out of their slump.
The Saints struggled in the first half, conceding three goals as Bournemouth dominated the match in front of their home fans. Although Taylor Harwood-Bellis scored early in the second half, it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback.
Martin reflected on the match, stating, “They made 20 fouls to our 10, which sums up the game. We were soft. Forget style of play—if you don’t want to run, fight, and win duels, it’s going to be a problem.”
Currently sitting 19th in the table with just one point from their first six games, Southampton had only brief moments where they resembled a cohesive Premier League team.
“I thought I had prepared them well for Bournemouth and how they approach the game, but obviously, it wasn’t enough,” Martin said. “We looked unprepared, which is crazy given the work we’ve done.”
Despite his disappointment, Martin emphasized solidarity with his players. “I will never blame the group of players; we are together. I was hurt by the lack of spirit and fight. I told them that, and it’s my responsibility to sort it out.”
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