Russell Martin rips into 'pathetic' Southampton as Leicester City pull clear of Leeds United

A furious Russell Martin tore into his Southampton players following their heavy defeat at Leicester City, labelling the performance "pathetic". The Saints were hammered 5-0 by the Championship leaders on Tuesday evening.

Ghana winger Abdul Fatawu netted a hat-trick, with Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy also on target. The Foxes need only to win at Preston North End on Monday or at home to Blackburn Rovers on the final day to seal their Premier League return.

However, their place in the top flight could also be sealed as early as Friday if Leeds United lose at Queens Park Rangers. The result effectively ended Southampton's top-two aspirations.

Read more: What Leicester City's win over Southampton means for Leeds United in Championship promotion race

Martin, whose side face the Whites at Elland Road on the final weekend of the season, said: “The players need to show a bit of love for each other and pick each other up, I’m fed up of doing that. They need to feel some pain – the same pain that I’m feeling right now.

“Rolling over like that, it’s actually pathetic, losing 5-0. They have to rally round as a group and show some care for each other.

“I did not like what I saw from my team one bit at 2-0 down. Self-preservation, our body language and people throwing their hands up in the air. It surprised me actually. What can you do? I told them I didn’t like it.

“I told them Che Adams is out of contract this summer and the one person who has the excuse if he didn’t really want to be all in and not work hard for his team, but he did that more than anyone. So it was inexcusable for anyone else not to do that.

“The fans were amazing, they were still clapping at the end and deserved better than that.”

As for United, they remain in second position, four points off City with two matches remaining. They are a point clear of third-placed Ipswich Town but have played a game more.