Angry Russell Martin slates 'lack of courage' as Southampton stunned by Leicester City

Russell Martin, Manager of Southampton, reacts during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Leicester City
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


Angry Russell Martin blamed Southampton’s 3-2 defeat to Leicester City on Ryan Fraser’s second-half red card at St Mary’s.

City staged a stunning fightback on the south coast as they came from 2-0 down to claim all three points and inflict more misery on the Premier League’s bottom side. Facundo Buonanotte and a Jamie Vardy penalty hauled the visitors level before Jordan Ayew bagged a crucial winner in added time.

Vardy’s penalty came from Fraser being penalised for dragging back the City striker. The Saints substitute was also given his marching orders, with Martin arguing the sending off was a turning point in the game.

“I’m just a bit angry we’ve lost the game,” said Martin, whose team are yet to record a Premier League win so far this season and have now lost three matches on the bounce. “I'm angry that we were 2-0 up and lost 3-2.”

Asked what he put that collapse down to, the Southampton boss added: “Lack of courage to play football properly when we're 2-0 up. Second half we started really well and then we don't take a chance to make it 3-0. We had a couple of really good chances and then concede.

“And then a man gets sent off, and with 10 men anything can happen in the Premier League. We haven't been able to hold out.

“The sending off has changed the game completely. But I trust it's the right decision from VAR and all that stuff, so I can't complain about the decision. But it's changed the game for us.

“I still don't think we were good enough for the last 15 minutes of the first half. For the first half an hour, I thought we were great; so good, looked really strong, really aggressive going forward, looked like we were going to create a lot. And then we got a grip of the game.

“They scored out of nowhere, really. I don't think they had any moments before that in the second half. And then Ryan gets sent off and it changes the game.”

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Ayew’s winner from off the bench made it back-to-back victories for Steve Cooper’s men. The substitute smashed in Harry Winks’ low corner, leaving Martin to bemoan one of his player’s not sticking to their task.

“We were down to 10 men. But we give someone the details to be on the penalty spot and they don’t do it, and it’s cost us,” he said. “It’s probably symptomatic of our season so far.”

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