Russell Martin has a lot of credit in the bank at Southampton after guiding them to the Premier League in his first season in charge last season.
However, football is a fickle business and the fact Southampton have picked up just one point from their first six Premier League matches could see Russell Martin at risk of losing his job.
The 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth on Monday night was the biggest low point of the season yet as Southampton were outclassed and outfought by their local neighbours.
Next up is a trip to The Emirates to face title-challengers Arsenal, before Leicester City at home is followed by another brutal away game against Manchester City.
That run puts so much emphasis on beating Leicester at St Mary’s and Martin appears to be starting to crack a little under the pressure.
- READ MORE: What Russell Martin did to travelling Southampton fans after AFC Bournemouth defeat is telling
Russell Martin reaction to Bournemouth defeat highlights precarious Southampton position
Martin was a dejected man after the Bournemouth defeat and spoke post-match about how he didn’t recognise his Southampton side in the first-half.
What frustrated Martin the most was the lack of fight shown by his players and he pulled no punches as he called out the Saints stars.
- READ MORE: Russell Martin names the three Southampton players who actually showed ‘fight’ vs AFC Bournemouth
Adam Blackmore and former Southampton midfielder Jo Tessem were on commentary duty for BBC Radio Solent on Monday night and both felt Martin’s comments show he is starting to feel the pressure.
Speaking on the Goin’ home with Adam and Jo post-match podcast, Blackmore said: “This is a tightrope isn’t it, for a manager?
“You’ve got to feel pretty secure about your position if you publicly blast your players, or did he have no choice as it was so obvious for everyone to see that they let Bournemouth roll over them in the first half?”
Tessem responded: “I think most players would prefer to get criticised in the dressing room and I think the manager – if he were to be criticised by the players – would prefer it in the dressing room.
“Maybe he feels let down and he is frustrated and obviously he’s under pressure. He’s going to be asked questions about his style of football and everyone’s going to ask him about playing out from the back and ‘Plan A’ as a lot of people like to call it.
“He is under pressure, he hasn’t won any football games in the Premier League…”
Blackmore interjected: “Do you think those comments then are of a man under pressure? Do you think he’s feeling the pressure now?”
To which Tessem replied: “I think he’s really feeling the pressure because he thought his style would deliver in the Premier League and it hasn’t. It’s been the opposite, it’s been a negative factor for him.”
Martin may be fearful of upcoming international break
A heavy defeat at Arsenal has the potential to spell the end for Martin if the Southampton board decide they have seen enough.
Premier League survival is the only objective this season and Sport Republic may not feel they have been provided with enough evidence that Martin is capable of doing that.
After the Arsenal game domestic football will pause for the second international break of the season and Martin will be worried this could see the board act.
Managers are often relieved of their duties before international breaks as it allows a replacement to have more time with the players before the next fixture.
Therefore, Martin will need his team to show against Arsenal that they are all pulling in the same direction but it could hardly be against a tougher opponent.