Southampton’s search for their first points since returning to the Premier League goes on as Russell Martin’s side lost 3-1 to Brentford on Saturday.
That defeat means Southampton now go into the first international break of the season 19th in the table with no points.
The only positive to take for Russell Martin is that his side did score their first Premier League goal of the season, with summer signing Yukinari Sugawara scoring a 95th-minute consolation.
It was a poor collective display from Southampton, with mistakes when playing out from the back once again their downfall as Brentford relentlessly pressed the backline.
- READ MORE: Jamie O’Hara delivers ‘pathetic’ Southampton verdict after latest Premier League defeat to Brentford
A brace from Bryan Mbeumo and a strike from Yoane Wissa saw Aaron Ramsdale concede three on his Saints debut but there was little the £25 million man could do about any of the goals.
Russell Martin formation is not working for Southampton
Martin largely preferred a 4-3-3 formation last season as Southampton won promotion from the Championship.
However, in the final game of the regular season Martin sprung a surprise in a 2-1 win over the team Southampton would beat in the play-off final as he switched to a 3-5-2.
This system helped the Saints successfully navigate the play-offs as they looked more assured defensively and Martin has continued to use it for the first three league games of the season.
All three of those games have ended in defeat and in 1-0 losses to Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest Southampton struggled to create.
- READ MORE: Micah Richards says what Southampton must do as ‘alarming’ issue raised in Nottingham Forest defeat
This problem was not so evident against Brentford as Southampton had 18 shots but failed to take their chances.
Martin switched to the 4-3-3 system that was such a feature of last season for Southampton’s 5-3 midweek win over Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup and it was expected he would continue with this approach against Brentford, but he stuck to the same system and players as the first two league defeats.
With two weeks to work with his players over the international break that will surely now change for the St Mary’s clash against Manchester United in a fortnight and that could just get the best out of one key player.
Southampton switching to back four could get Taylor Harwood-Bellis back to his best
One of the reasons Martin switched to a back three at the backend of last season was to get Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens all in the team.
It has been that same trio that have started all three Premier League games so far but Martin must now know that something has to give.
Harwood-Bellis was signed for £20 million this summer having been a crucial player in winning promotion whilst on loan from Manchester City last season.
However, the youngster has struggled in the opening weeks of the new campaign as he experiences his first taste of Premier League football.
The 22-year-old has been substituted in both the last two league games as Martin has switched to a back four whilst chasing the game, but this is exactly the change that is needed to get Harwood-Bellis back to his best.
- READ MORE: Southampton fans are raving about one player despite Brentford loss, and the stats show why
Harwood-Bellis and Bednarek built a strong partnership at the centre of the defence last season, largely whilst Stephens was out injured.
The captain’s return to fitness disrupted the backline as Martin tried to find ways to shoehorn his captain into the side.
The back three suits Stephens who is decent on the ball but not the best at defending his box, whilst Harwood-Bellis has thrived in a back four but looked a little lost at times in a three.
Therefore, if Martin wants to get his most talented defender playing at his highest level again he simply has to change to a back four.