Russell Martin knows that now is the time to earn his money as Southampton manager, with big decisions needed to save the club’s season.
Saturday’s St Mary’s clash against Ipswich Town was the biggest game of Southampton‘s season so far so it was gutting to concede a 95th-minute equaliser after a largely positive performance.
Having started the same starting XI in the first two Premier League games of the season and only made a change at goalkeeper for the third, Russell Martin admitted he could no longer be sentimental if Southampton are to survive in the top flight.
This started with four changes in the 3-0 loss against Manchester United before another four changes were made to the side that started that game for the draw with Ipswich.
18-year-old Tyler Dibling scored Southampton’s goal, with the assist provided by a player double his age in Adam Lallana; who had come in for his first league start since re-signing.
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However, it was another charge Martin made that raised a few eyebrows when the lineups were announced that proved to be the right call.
Russell Martin dropped Kyle Walker-Peters out of Southampton team for Ipswich Town draw
One of the biggest concerns Southampton had this summer was that Kyle Walker-Peters would leave the club amid interest from West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur.
The 27-year-old also entering the final year of his contract further complicated matters but the fact he remained at the club come the end of the transfer window was viewed as a real positive.
However, with Yukinari Sugawara starring on the right of the defence, Walker-Peters has so far played on the left this season but dropped out of the starting XI against Ipswich in a surprise move from Martin.
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This saw experienced left-back Charlie Taylor come into the side for his first Premier League start since joining for free in the summer after impressing against Everton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
Southampton better balanced with Charlie Taylor replacing Walker-Peters
Walker-Peters is one of Southampton’s best players and was the club’s sole representative in the EFL Championship Team of the Season last campaign.
However, Sugawara has been a real revelation since signing from AZ Alkmaar in the summer in Walker-Peters’ favoured right-back position, meaning Walker-Peters has had to play on the left.
It is a position he can play to a high level, but in the back four that Martin has switched to since the Brentford defeat it is less natural to have a right-footed player play as a conventional left-back rather than a wingback.
With Taylor coming into the side not only do Southampton have a less adventurous option who can help the side have a more solid feel but he is a natural left-footer so the balance of the side looked much better against Ipswich.