On Tuesday, Southampton encountered a significant setback in their promotion bid.
Southampton had a forgettable outing on Tuesday, enduring a heavy 5-0 defeat against Leicester City at The King Power Stadium. Goals from Wilfried Ndidi, Jamie Vardy, and a hat-trick by Abdul Fatawu sealed the emphatic win for the Foxes.
Following the defeat, Southampton remains in fourth place in the Championship table. Their chances of securing automatic promotion to the Premier League are now slim, but they are assured a place in the play-offs.
Despite their strong position in the table, Southampton’s inconsistent form, particularly after their record unbeaten run, raises questions about their ability to succeed in the play-offs.
Given this context, let’s delve into the latest news surrounding Southampton.
Martin criticizes players following Leicester defeat
The Southampton performance at Leicester on Tuesday, much like the outcome, was glaringly disappointing. Despite needing a positive result to maintain hopes of automatic promotion, the Saints faltered against the league leaders. Their inability to contain Leicester allowed the hosts to dominate on their home ground, a stark contrast to Southampton’s previous status as genuine challengers for a top-two spot.
Manager Russell Martin didn’t mince words in his assessment of his squad after the defeat. He labeled their performance as “pathetic,” expressing disappointment in their failure to regroup after conceding the second goal. Martin criticized his team for adopting a “self-preservation mode” instead of supporting each other, emphasizing his disdain for this approach within his team.
A new injury worry arises.
Southampton had already received a setback with Stuart Armstrong ruled out for the remainder of the season. Now, another injury concern has surfaced. Joe Rothwell, who was in the starting lineup against Leicester, had to be substituted off after just 40 minutes due to an apparent hamstring issue. Manager Russell Martin mentioned that Rothwell continued for a while but eventually showed signs of fatigue, prompting further assessment of his condition.
Leverkusen goalkeeper pursued
Apart from the setback of Tuesday’s loss, there have been recent reports linking Southampton to potential transfers. According to Football Insider, Southampton, along with Celtic and PSV Eindhoven, are eyeing a move for Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Patrick Pentz. Despite joining Leverkusen last year, Pentz has yet to debut for the club but has been showcasing his talent on loan at Brondby in Denmark, drawing interest from other clubs. Pentz is approaching the final year of his contract with Leverkusen, and Southampton might be considering bolstering their goalkeeping options, especially with Gavin Bazunu facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury and Alex McCarthy’s contract expiring soon.