Southampton suffered a 2-1 loss to Millwall on Saturday, thus denting their hopes of finishing inside the top two.
Rather surprisingly, top scorer Adam Armstrong was named as a substitute in the defeat for the first time this season in the Championship.
The 27-year-old has captained his side for much of the campaign but Russell Martin opted to go with a front three of Ryan Fraser, Che Adams and David Brooks.
Despite being one of Southampton’s most improved players earlier in the season, Armstrong has suffered from a loss of form recently and it has come at a crucial time of the year.
As we enter the business end of the campaign, Martin must now find a way to get the former Blackburn Rovers forward firing again.
Adam Armstrong’s goals drying up
Armstrong has been talismanic for Southampton this term but for whatever reason, that notion has started to dwindle in recent weeks.
The Newcastle-born attacker has netted twice in his last seven outings and during his last five games, he’s fallen below a 7.0 match rating, as per WhoScored.
That’s been a rarity for much of the season and it’s becoming a real concern for Martin, as his side look to rediscover their form.
Armstrong came on in the 59 minute against Millwall on the weekend and hardly made an impact, touching the ball just eight times.
In the previous game, a 2-1 defeat to Hull City, it was a similar story, as he recorded 12 touches before being subbed off at half-time.
Could a position change benefit Adam Armstrong?
Armstrong’s loss of form has coincided with a recent position change to right wing. Whilst he has played there on occasion earlier in the season, he’s been forced out wide a lot more over the last few weeks.
Perhaps playing through the middle as a centre-forward will allow him to be more involved and impactful in the game.
Across his 27 goal contributions this term, 14 have come from playing as a centre-forward, so it’s clear to see where his best position is.
Martin must find a way to get Armstrong playing through the middle again, and Bournemouth loanee David Brooks could be key in making that happen.
Brooks is naturally a right winger and can slot seamlessly into the void left by Armstrong, so there are certainly options for the Saints boss going forward.
Southampton face Liverpool in the fifth round of the FA Cup in midweek before making the trip to the West Midlands to face Birmingham City at St Andrew’s this weekend.