Russell Martin has openly acknowledged the mounting pressure on him following Southampton’s disappointing loss to Wolves, another team struggling in the league.
Having just secured their first Premier League victory against Everton, Southampton set foot at Molineux with hopes riding high. However, their optimism was considerably dampened as they succumbed to a convincing 2-0 defeat, failing to register a single shot on target against a Wolves side that had previously endured a winless streak of 10 games.
The match saw Pablo Sarabia open the scoring for Wolves within the first two minutes, swiftly followed by a spectacular long-range strike from Matheus Cunha to double the lead. Despite Ryan Manning thinking he had equalized, only for the goal to be disallowed by referee Thomas Bramall after consulting the pitchside monitor due to a perceived foul in the build-up.
Expressing his frustration with the decisions made by the officials, Martin criticized the calls against Mateus Fernandes and the overlooked jersey tug on Cameron Archer by Craig Dawson leading to Wolves’ second goal. However, the Southampton manager refused to make excuses for his team’s lackluster performance, which has now positioned them at the bottom of the Premier League with a mere four points from 11 matches.
Martin emphasized the importance of a resilient response, stating, “It’s disappointing when you’re on the end of two tough calls. We should have done better. We have a lack of punch. We have to create. We need to work really hard to try and improve.”
When questioned about Manning’s disallowed goal, Martin remarked, “I think it’s open to interpretation.” He further expressed disappointment in the decision-making process and articulated the need for greater clarity and understanding in such situations.
Reflecting on the impact of Wolves’ second goal on his team’s performance, Martin acknowledged the setback but highlighted the significance of making the most of possession in the attacking third. He emphasized the necessity of more decisive actions and energy in the final third, stressing the importance of players stepping up and showcasing ambition to turn things around.
Martin is feeling immense pressure following his team’s loss after squandering a 2-0 lead to Leicester. He admitted his position is at risk with upcoming tough fixtures against Liverpool, Brighton, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Tottenham.
