Southampton started their Premier League return with a 1-0 defeat against Newcastle United due to a howler from goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.
Russell Martin will take confidence from his Southampton side’s display against Newcastle but will be bitterly disappointed at the nature of the defeat.
Having started well, Southampton may have felt things were going to go their way on the opening day after Fabian Schar was sent off for an altercation with Ben Brereton Diaz after just 28 minutes.
However, the momentum the Saints were gathering was halted as Alex McCarthy inexplicably passed the ball straight to Alexander Isak who laid off to Joelinton to slot home and burst the Southampton bubble on the stroke of half-time.
- READ MORE: Russell Martin must replace one Southampton player after ‘frustrating’ performance v Newcastle
Southampton peppered the Newcastle goal in the second half but a number of fine saves from Nick Pope combined with a resolute defensive display ensured the Saints were left disappointed on the opening day.
Russell Martin explains substituting Yukinari Sugawara against Newcastle
There were no surprises when Martin’s first Southampton XI of the season was revealed, with the same players starting against Getafe in the last friendly of pre-season.
This meant just two new signings started the game, with Yukinari Sugawara and Brereton Diaz the chosen duo.
Sugawara has impressed in pre-season and started at right wingback with Kyle Walker-Peters on the left.
The Japan international looked lively in the first 45 minutes but surprisingly didn’t come out for the second half as Samuel Edozie replaced him.
Martin has now explained that decision, telling the Daily Echo: “Yuki was good. I thought he was good.
“He delivered a couple of really brilliant crosses but we’re playing against ten men. We wanted to bring a winger on the pitch.
“Kyle Walker-Peters played there on the right last season, all-season for us, and can dribble and one against one is very good.
“Yuki just paid the price for the game situation. It wasn’t his performance at all. I think he’s going to be a really top player for us.”
Sugawara should return to Southampton side against Nottingham Forest
Whilst few expected Southampton to get anything from the game away at Newcastle, the fact that Martin’s side had 78% possession, 23 shots and 12 corners and weren’t able to score will frustrate.
However, next weekend is a different story altogether, with Southampton welcoming Nottingham Forest to St Mary’s for their first home game of the new season.
Martin will undoubtedly have identified this as a huge opportunity to get Southampton’s first three points on the board and Sugawara’s attacking qualities are likely to see the 24-year-old return to the side.
Martin knows beating the sides Southampton are likely to be directly battling to avoid relegation will be key to survival and Forest are a team expected to be fighting at the wrong end of the table.