Southampton manager Russell Martin has issued an apology to Saints fans after their 5-0 thumping at the hands of Sunderland.
Goals from Jack Clarke, Bradley Dack, Chris Rigg and a brace from Pierre Ekwah secured all three points for a day Martin and his team will want to forget.
Despite the score line, Southampton did end the game with 13 shots to the Black Cats 18. However, Southampton failed to take any of those chances, something they’ve been criticised for this season, and were punished.
“My thoughts are when you concede two soft early goals like that, it makes the day very, very difficult for you,” Martin told Hampshire Live after the game.
“Then you have a choice to roll your sleeves up and really fight, and we did – we conceded two and then for 20 minutes it was probably our best spell of the whole game.
“Then we conceded a really soft third goal and it changes the whole dynamic, and Sunderland can sit back and wait for their moments to counter. It’s difficult for us to then risk the ball with players, so the start of the game has really killed any game plan, any momentum or positivity that the players would’ve felt.”
Russell Martin issues apology to fans
Martin also issued an apology to the Saints fans who made the 640 mile round trip to the Stadium of Light.
Martin said: “I’m really disappointed. The fans were amazing, even at the end. I’m not just saying that – the way they stayed with the group, and it’s a long way to go. I’m really sorry for them. I’m really, really sorry. It’s really hurt, it should hurt, and now we have to use that hurt as fuel to learn, move forward and make sure we improve.”