Russell Martin Expresses Annoyance and Frustration Following Southampton’s Cup Qualification

Southampton manager Russell Martin shared his thoughts with BBC Radio 5 Live regarding the Saints’ advancement to the next round of the competition. Martin stated: “It should have been easier than what it was, we were so dominant in the first-half and should have gone in 2-0 up, so I’m a bit annoyed at that.” He further elaborated on his feelings during the match: “By the time I left the stands we were 2-0 up and it was 2-1 by the time I got down so I was annoyed and frustrated.” Despite this, Martin praised aspects of the team’s play: “But I really liked the performance on the whole in the first-half. The final choice in terms of pass, cross or finish wasn’t there. We could have made more of that but we gave them something to hold on to which changed the context of the game.” Addressing their opponents, Stoke, Martin remarked: “They defended with big numbers and caught us in a moment on a counter-attack and nearly did again later on in the game.” He acknowledged the team’s resilience: “So the boys came through the moment in adversity and we won the game with some quality from [James] Bree.” Reflecting on his side’s overall performance, Martin noted: “So many players on the pitch haven’t been on there recently, so we have to take into consideration that a lot of players are playing with each other for the first time in a long time.” Concluding his remarks, Martin expressed satisfaction with the team’s spirit: “I’m really pleased with the character within the group, I learnt a lot about some individuals tonight and we got through it. At the start of the night, it was all about winning the game. It’s not easy the cup, you have to respect it.”