Russell Martin will be having many a sleepless night after his Southampton side have started the season with three defeats from three in the Premier League.
A 1-0 opening day defeat away at Newcastle United was followed up by a loss by the same scoreline against Nottingham Forest at St Mary’s a week later.
Southampton have tasted victory this season, as a changed XI beat Cardiff City 5-3 in the Carabao Cup, but that joy was short-lived as Russell Martin‘s side lost 3-1 to Brentford days later.
That was Southampton’s last game prior to the current international break, with Martin undoubtedly spending the time off club football trying to find a solution to the Saints’ early season woes.
Southampton have a chance to start to turn their form around with Manchester United coming to St Mary’s on Saturday and they will be desperate to get their first points on the board.
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Southampton could break unfortunate Premier League record with defeat vs Man Utd
Whilst losing away at Newcastle is no humiliation, the fact Southampton played the majority of the game against ten men and the goal conceded was completely of their own doing makes it a disappointing result.
The defeats to Forest and Brentford highlighted issues at both ends of the pitch, with Southampton finally getting their first goal of the season through a Yukinari Sugawara 95th-minute consolation goal last time out.
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Now, the Saints must avoid defeat in Saturday’s early kick-off against Manchester United or face making unwanted history.
That is because, if Southampton were to lose to the Red Devils, they will become the first team in Premier League history to lose their first four games of the season on three separate occasions.
The club previously lost their first four Premier League games in the 1998/1999 season and the last time they returned to the top flight in 2012/13.
Southampton heading into crucial run of fixtures
Whilst it will be far from easy to take anything from United, Southampton should take optimism from the fact Erik ten Hag’s side have not won since the opening day.
The current United side is a far cry from the all conquering sides of the past and there are weaknesses that Southampton can exploit against the Old Trafford club.
Even if Southampton lose and gain the unwanted record, the outcome of the club’s season will not be determined by the United game.
The fixtures that follow could be crucial to Martin’s hopes of keeping Southampton in the division, though, as the Saints face Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Bournemouth and Everton in the next seven league games.
How many points Southampton take from the twelve available in those games will be give a far better indication of how realistic the club’s chances are of avoiding relegation this season.