Southampton manager Russell Martin attributes Saturday’s loss to Millwall to defensive lapses rather than tactical adjustments made ahead of the match.
The Saints faced a setback in the Championship, experiencing consecutive defeats for the first time since September. Goals from Japhet Tanganga and Zian Flemming secured a victory for Millwall, despite Che Adams leveling the score in the 34th minute. Southampton’s previous unbeaten streak of 25 games came to an end with a loss to Bristol City, leading to a recent struggle with just one win and a drop to fourth place in the table, trailing five points behind the automatic promotion spots.
Manager Russell Martin introduced slight tactical changes, featuring Jack Stephens in a hybrid defender/midfielder role and Kyle Walker-Peters shifting to left-back instead of his usual right-back position. However, Martin asserted that these tactical adjustments were not to blame for the defeat, emphasizing the team’s failure to capitalize on significant chances and highlighting defensive lapses.
Addressing the match, Martin emphasized the team’s dominance and missed opportunities: “We had three massive chances and should score. It’s not normal to create that many big chances against a team in a low block… It’s nothing to do with tactics.” He pinpointed defensive shortcomings as the decisive factor, expressing frustration over conceding “rubbish goals” and emphasizing the need to improve defensive stability.
Despite the disappointing result, Martin remained adamant about the team’s capabilities and the importance of rectifying defensive issues. He underscored the team’s need for cohesion, particularly praising the contribution of Jack Stephens and redirecting the focus towards the chances created to secure victory.