Russell Martin has overseen consecutive draws in the past week, but his side need to take the next step and secure three points against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Southampton are on an impressive run of 13 games unbeaten, last tasting defeat in September. Martin deserves enormous credit for this, especially when you consider that this run came straight off the back of four defeats in a row.
The Saints’ problem is converting their dominance in games into wins and, despite having the majority of the ball on a weekly basis, they lack the ability to create meaningful chances in games and put teams to bed. This was evident against Coventry, where Southampton had a remarkable 72% of the ball but only had three shots on target in the game.
Given the fact the home game against Blackburn is the third game in the week, as well as the back-to-back draws, it is anticipated that Martin will make changes to his side. Southampton looked far more threatening when they changed to a 4-3-3 with natural width in the second half against Coventry and it is expected this is the shape that Southampton will use from the start against Blackburn.
Russell Martin must start Sam Edozie against Blackburn
When Martin changed the shape to a 4-3-3 on 60 minutes against Coventry, it was Ryan Fraser and Sam Edozie who came on to provide the width. Just seven minutes later, a Fraser cross was flicked on by Adam Armstrong and Edozie fired home the equaliser.
This was almost instant gratification for the personnel and tactical swap and the Saints looked immediately more comfortable in the conventional 4-3-3 shape with wingers who maintain the width and Armstrong through the middle playing as a centre-forward.
It is expected that Fraser will come into the side for Saturday’s game, but it is crucial that Edozie also gets the opportunity to start given he offers a pace, directness and creativity that Southampton have lacked since Kamaldeen Sulemana‘s injury.
Edozie has found opportunities hard to come by recently, having started the first seven Championship games of the season but only one since. The 20-year-old has seen Sulemana and Fraser both climb above him in the pecking order, but with Sulemana injured and Fraser struggling to make an impact when starting games, it is now time for Martin to trust the young winger again.
Edozie’s goal against Coventry was his third league goal of the season and he also has one assist. When you consider he has only started eight league games – and played just 34% of the available minutes – this is not a bad return for a young winger. It feels like, at a time when Southampton are desperate for some creativity, Edozie is the man that can take on some of that burden.
Edozie is flexible too, and is comfortable on either wing which should also make him an attractive option for Martin. Whilst Martin loves his sides to dominate the ball and have control through possession, the Saints must take more risks to win games and Edozie represents a player who can provide a spark and do something different to create a chance.
Martin will want to continue this long unbeaten run, but the Saints are drawing too many games when Leicester City and Ipswich Town in the automatic promotion spots are winning games at a freakish rate. Edozie will be desperate for the chance to show his manager he can be the man to help turn draws into wins and should be given this responsibility on Saturday.