Southampton can consider themselves very unlucky not to have picked up their first Premier League win of the season against Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Russell Martin would have known the magnitude of the fixture at home against fellow newly-promoted Ipswich and will have eyed the match as the perfect opportunity for Southampton take three points.
The chances of this improved significantly when Tyler Dibling scored his first senior goal to put the Saints 1-0 up after just five minutes.
Having missed a penalty against Manchester United, Cameron Archer again squandered a couple of big opportunities to extend Southampton’s lead; including hitting the post from a narrow angle after rounding the Ipswich goalkeeper.
Ipswich piled on the pressure late on and it eventually paid off for the Tractor Boys as a deflected Sam Morsy strike flew into Aaron Ramsdale‘s top corner on 95 minutes following a corner to ensure the shares were spoiled.
- READ MORE: Aaron Ramsdale will have to improve one thing at Southampton despite ‘impressive’ Ipswich display
Russell Martin believes Aaron Ramsdale unfortunate at Southampton so far
Southampton agreed to pay Arsenal up to £25 million to sign Ramsdale on Deadline Day to address Martin’s goalkeeper woes.
This move was a real coup for the Saints and Ramsdale will undoubtedly have a big say over whether the St Mary’s club stay in the division this season.
- READ MORE: Ben Foster delivers ‘really important’ Aaron Ramsdale verdict after he joined Southampton
However, since arriving Ramsdale has conceded seven goals in three games, but Martin insists his new ‘keeper has been unlucky.
Speaking on Ramsdale following the late heartbreak against Ipswich, Martin said: He’s a top goalkeeper. He’s played three games and I don’t know how he’s conceded three goals.
“It’s not fair on him really. The stuff he does with the ball at his feet, the decisions he make, help us as a group and as a team.
“He’s a top goalkeeper and he’s showing that. I’ve only watched the equaliser once and that was enough because it made me feel sick.”
Southampton must start to keep Premier League clean sheets
Ramsdale is an England international and he made a number of fine saves to preserve Southampton’s lead before the deflection off Joe Aribo left the 26-year-old with no chance of saving Ipswich’s equaliser on Saturday.
As well as a first win, Southampton came so close to keeping a first clean sheet of the season against Ipswich and this is something they need to start doing if they are to avoid relegation.
So far, Southampton have conceded nine goals in five games in the league; averaging just under two goals a game.
When you consider Martin has seen his side score just twice in the league this season it is clear to see why Southampton must focus on clean sheets.
The Saints simply do not have the firepower to outscore sides at the top level so they instead need to find a way to stop conceding to have any hopes of success.