Russell Martin says Southampton lacked ‘courage and character’ in Bournemouth loss

This is the one where Russell Martin tore into his team. This is the one where the under-pressure Southampton manager surely drew a line in the sand by accusing his players of lacking “aggression”, “intensity” and, most damningly of all, “courage” and “character”.
He blamed himself, also, for picking the “wrong team” but having witnessed how a rampant Bournemouth – with Antoine Semenyo outstanding – simply beat them up there was a withering blow. “It is impossible if you are not going to fight,” Martin said.
Understandably after such a humiliation in the first 45 minutes, when Bournemouth scored three times, he looked almost shell-shocked. Although Martin remained adamant he was not blaming his players, his words need to be read.
“I’m so hurt by the first-half performance after the first goal – I didn’t recognise our team,” he said. “I’m usually proud of them for the courage they show, but there was no aggression, no courage, no intensity to play. They were in self-preservation mode on the pitch and the body language I didn’t recognise. I didn’t recognise and I didn’t like it one bit.”
Martin went on: “We were soft. Forget style of play if you do not want to run and fight, make contact and take things personally in a duel then it’s going to be a problem.”
Naturally he said he would also question himself, adding: “I will never ever come out here and blame the group of players. We are together. I didn’t like what I saw and I was hurt by the lack of spirit and fight. Ultimately it’s on the leader and that’s my problem to sort out.”
For that appalling first-half Southampton may as well have cashed in their chips and return to the Championship such was the way they were simply destroyed and also self-destructed.
While they were far better in the second-half and even threatened an improbable comeback, questions will obviously continue to be asked as to whether they can compete in the Premier League. Their goal, a header from Taylor Harwood-Bellis, was crucial in that it kept them off the bottom of the table but that was cold comfort as they remain in search of a first win after being promoted back to the top-flight.
They have a single point, representing their worst start in 26 years. Going further back, prior to Martin, it is now 19 Premier League games without a victory. Next up? It is an away game at Arsenal before the international break.
The debate will again continue about their defensive vulnerability but this had nothing to do with the way Martin has them play and more to do with some terrible errors and attitude and anxiety and lack of concentration. Maybe, it could be claimed, that is because of their style. But whatever the reason their underbelly is too soft and this league is too hard to stomach that.
It was not the fault of ‘Russ-ball’ but a series of balls-ups. Not that Martin is blameless. So much focus will centre on playing out from the back but he started with five strikers on the bench, before bringing on two, and although it was an interesting 4-2-4 formation he invited pressure from an opponent that loves to press.
Undoubtedly Martin deserves to survive, given what he has done at Southampton, but things have to change. They even started well, they even had chances. But once they conceded they simply collapsed.
Maybe it will be argued that Martin’s damning comments are high-risk but, frankly, he has nothing to lose and considering how he has consistently sheltered his players it is they who need to respond. This must be a reality check.
And those goals? They were bad. Very bad. A brief summary: for the first they just switched off after captain Flynn Downes conceded a free-kick – the two closest players, Downes and Lesley Ugochukwu, even had their backs turned – with James Tavernier taking it quickly. In stole Evanilson, in front of Harwood-Bellis, to steer a volley beyond Aaron Ramsdale. It was the Brazilian record signing’s first Bournemouth goal.
“We watched a couple of videos in the meetings in the week and we knew we could catch them out with quick free-kicks,” Semenyo said and that was another damning comment.
The second? Semenyo broke down the right, easily sent Charlie Taylor to the turf and pulled the ball back for the unmarked Lewis Cook who Ugochukwu had left. The midfielder’s first-time shot deflected off Dango Ouattara to wrong-foot Ramsdale.
Ouattara with a crucial touch and Bournemouth double their lead! 🍒 pic.twitter.com/261BoSlDCQ
And the third? Semenyo was allowed to twist and turn, with Ugochukwu standing off him and no challenge made by his team-mates either, creating the space to drill in a low shot.
“For the first 45 minutes we were electric,” said Bournemouth assistant manager Tommy Elphick who was in the dugout as Andoni Iraola served a touchline ban. They were but they were also allowed to be.
Martin clearly had a go at half-time, taking his seat early and making a triple substitution. It was far more even after that. Not that it mattered. The damage was done, and even though his team had responded, he felt the need to go on the offensive with his words. At least he is fighting.
I think that will do it for the blog. Excellent performance from Bournemouth. Also a decent run out for Graham Potter in the Sky Sports Monday Night Football Shop Window. Poor old Southampton were abject in the first half, the game was all-but over by the interval. Russell Martin didn’t hold back, and you have to wonder if the Southampton-powers-that-be might not hold back either… We shall see. Jason’s report appears above, thank you for following.
“We started really well. We showed the guys how Bournemouth like to play quick freekicks. But they switched off.
“It hurt to watch the team in the first half. I did not recognise them, the body language. Really disappointed. It is on me, I need to give them tools to respond better to setbacks. We were soft. If you don’t want to run and fight, take things personally, then it is going to be a problem.
“I have to question myself. I thought I had prepared them for what Bournemouth would do. I am disappointed with the lack of fight and spirit I have told them that in the dressing room. I only got this far in my own career due to mentality, it certainly was not down to talent, and I have not passed that on.
“At least they responded.
“I felt emotional at half time, I do not feel emotional now. We need to focus now. I need a team on the pitch that is going to fight for everything. There are characters in that dressing room and we need them out on the pitch.”
😢 “I’m so HURT by the first-half performance.”😬 “I didn’t recognise our team.” Russell Martin isn’t holding back on Southampton’s performance against Bournemouth 😨 pic.twitter.com/Qe0UkDKw9E
“So important to get the three points, well deserved, we played well. Felt wonderful to score. Managed to create space and I’m buzzing because it was a good finish. I like to think I am a two-footed player and I am buzzing. 
“The sky is the limit for us and we are going to cause some sides some problems.”
Seems like a smashing lad, he’s really come all the way up through the pyramid. Bath City, Newport County, Sunderland, Bristol City and now the Premier League with Bournemouth.
Jamie Carragher: “He feels like a top Premier League player now. He is the standout player for Bournemouth.”
Such fight as they were showing has gone out of Southampton and Bournemouth see this out with plenty to spare. They have some talented guys and look really well coached. Southampton, dearie me. And given that two of their next three fixtures are Arsenal away and Man City away… all I’ll say is that only Erik ten Hag is keeping Russell Martin from heading the sack race market.
Sinisterra comes on for Semenyo. This game is over I think.
They’ve just done a pitchside interview with Tavernier, who was subbed off. Is this a new thing for MNF this season? I don’t think I have seen it before.
He explains that taking the freekick quickly for the goal earlier was something that is drilled into them in training.
Ryan Christie lets rip with a screamer! Ooh that was close.
Evanilson, who cost Bournemouth one billion dollars, won’t have to eat the whole meal and he is replaced by Enes Unal.
Ooh big moment! Ben Brereton gets free down the left, he slides to knock it across and colleagues in the six-yard box lunge agonisingly short. That would have set up a barnstomer of a finish. Which might yet happen of course.
Adam Lallanas-in-Pyjamas is on. Dear old Adam. 71 now. 
But Bournemouth, who look an effective and well run outfit, have taken back the momentum here. It would be an exaggeration to say that they are stroking the ball around with authority but they’re doing enough with it, and holding onto it enough, to kill off the Southampton rally.
Bournemouth need to switch on here, they’ve been in neutral since the half. Outtara off for Kluivert.
Saints pumped, fans up for it, 442, have a bit of that. Save Russell Martin. Plenty of fouling. Dibling and Downes both in the book.
Sugawara booked for a foul on Tavernier. Gossamer touch at worst I would say.
 
Southampton have got one back! An exciting, energetic attack leads to a corner. Taylor Harwood-Bellis drew a good stop from Kepa Arrizabalaga.
But the ball is played in by Mat Fernandes and Taylor Harwood-Bellis is given all the time he needs to direct a low header past the keeper.
Southampton have clearly had a rocket and this is a better all round effort.
Triple change from Southampton. Brereton Diaz, Stewart and Aribo on for Ugochukwu, Cornet, Fraser.
What a thoroughly excellent performance from Bournemouth, albeit that Southampton have been supine.
Three for the Cherries! Jackpot. They’ve been superb since going in front and this time it is Semenyo who gets himself a goal. He’s allowed to run, and run, and run. Shifts onto his other foot, defence totally bamboozled, fires it into the far corner and that’s three!
Southampton look red-hot faves for relegation on this evidence, and Russell Martin looks like a guy who is thinking “I wonder if I should dust off my CV.”
Southampton look a right flaky outfit. They’ve just invited Bournemouth to play here, Semenyo give waaaaaay too much time here, he crosses the ball for Cook who hits the target. Bit of a crowd scene in front of the keeper here and there’s some debate as to who has touched it last, it turns out to have clipped Ouattara. Nay chance keeper.
Fernandes is the first guy booked, for a sore looking slice on Senesi.
Tavernier with a good hit but gathered ok.
“It has been all Bournemouth since the goal,” says Alan Smith.
Up the Cherries – in all departments and especially in the Evanilson department! A lovely improvised finish from nowhere. Southampton poor with their defensive organisation at a quick free kick, the ball is lofted into the area and Evanilson hooks the ball home. Tavernier the man who played it in.
Cock-up at the back for AFCB as a defender plays the keeper into trouble, fluffed clearance, and a rasping shot comes in.
Southampton with some good early chances
Ugochukwu down the left, crosses, Cronet gets an effort away. It came off a defender, Senesi I think.
 
Crowd are enjoying giving Ryan Fraser a rub down for having once played for the oppo. Seems a bit harsh, he comes across like a decent guy. All a bit panto I think.
Both sides making a bright start to this but it’s Dibling who is the first to make a meaningful contribution, barrelling through.
Let’s get to it.
Russell Martin going over to the Southampton fans, walking across the pitch, *before* the game to do the expressive applause thanking their support. Marginal gains.
“Are you one of those who spoke to Man United?”
Potter: “For the respect of all those involved I won’t answer.”
Gram potter doing Palmer celebration 😝 pic.twitter.com/VP117jwbUr
already looking stressed!
“We are learning about ourselves all the time. What is different to the Championship. What we need to prioritise. And we want to dominate as much as we can.”
“We want to make all our good things count. We have had a tough schedule but I think we have done quite well. This game is key for us to say whether we have started well or not. For me, the team having the chances is the team controlling the game. I would rather have chances than have the ball.”
on Sky Sports Monday Night Football points out that Bournemouth are the most direct side in the league. And they run around A LOT.
South coast SAINTS 💛💙 pic.twitter.com/YTNGvEeALF
face
#BOUSOU team confirmed ✅ pic.twitter.com/y7kfgDW7YC
So that is three changes for Bournemouth. Adam Smith returns to captain. Dango Ouattara and Marcos Senesi start. Dean Huijsen, Justin Kluivert and Julian Araujo benched.
Meanwhile, Southampton make two changes. Lesley Ugochukwu and Maxwel Cornet in, Adam Lallana and Cameron Archer out.
“We just need that first win to build confidence.”
Good evening and welcome to our live blog of the match between two noble costal rivals, separated on the south coast of England by the New Forest. Hard to dislike either side (Pompey fans, do feel free to comment below) and hopefully we’ll have an enjoyable game. AFC Bournemouth are in 13th with one win under their belts, newly promoted Southampton have yet to notch three points and are having a tough start to life back in the top flight with just one point from five matches.
Their manager Russell Martin has challenged his players to use the club’s early-season frustrations to fuel a surge up the Premier League table.
“We should have more points, we should be higher up in the table, but we’re not,” he told a press conference.
“It makes me really frustrated but also then tells us we’re really not far away and if we keep on doing the right things with the right intention that eventually those things will end up levelling out and becoming more of a reality.
“Sometimes that is football, that is life, and you either choose to suffer through the pain or you choose to grow through it and you choose to use it as fuel. I always know what my choice is.
“I think we will get better and then we’ll end up with the points we hopefully feel we deserve.”
Southampton were poised for a first top-flight victory this term last time out before conceding a last-gasp equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Ipswich.
Saints are unbeaten in their six most recent visits to Vitality Stadium in all competitions, including winning the last three without conceding.
Martin is relishing taking on Andoni Iraola’s Cherries but insists previous results are irrelevant.
“It’s a local game, the fans will be desperate for us to go down there and put in a performance but not just because of the locality of the team we’re playing against but because we want to win and we need to win,” he said.
“I haven’t placed any extra onus on the game because of that and we’ll go there and treat it in the same way we would any other game.
“Previous games, previous results, we haven’t played against each other under myself and Andoni, so I don’t see how any of it really matters.
“It’s a completely different game and one I’m really excited about.”