Southampton manager Russell Martin admitted he took no joy in thrashing old club Swansea 5-0.Martin took charge of the Swans for two seasons before leaving to join Saints last summer – where he has now overseen a 16-match unbeaten run and seen his side close in on the Championship automatic-promotion places.The former MK Dons boss, who was making his first reunion with the Swans, did a lap...Full Story »

Southampton boss Russell Martin applauded Shea Charles for a “good foul” after the midfielder was sent off towards the end of a 1-0 win at QPR.With the Saints under pressure, midfielder Charles, on as a second-half substitute, halted a Rangers attack in the 89th minute by bringing down Albert Adomah.It led to Shea being dismissed for a second yellow card and meant the visitors saw ou...Full Story »

Russell Martin hailed his “relentless” Southampton side for finally blowing apart a Championship rival after thrashing 10-man Blackburn 4-0.Samuel Edozie, Stuart Armstrong, Sekou Mara and Carlos Alcaraz all netted as Saints continued their best unbeaten run for 39 years and made it five home victories in a row.Southampton’s single-digit goal difference and early-season slump ha...Full Story »

Russell Martin enjoyed getting his revenge on Cardiff fans after Southampton stretched their unbeaten run to 11 matches.Saints boss Martin was subjected to abusive comments by visiting supporters throughout the match.After celebrating with Saints supporters he displayed four fingers at the Bluebirds fans after the match – in reference to the two back-to-back season doubles he secured again...Full Story »

Southampton manager Russell Martin still wants more from his promotion-chasing Saints despite extending their unbeaten run to 10 games with a 1-0 victory over Bristol City.Kyle Walker-Peters scored a second-half belter to give Saints a fourth victory in their last five, which included their first home clean sheet since March.But despite keeping pace at the top of the Sky Bet Championship, Martin...Full Story »

Southampton boss Russell Martin said his team were “frustrated and angry” at their failure to hold on for victory over battling Huddersfield.The visitors dominated the first half with 82 percent possession but only broke the deadlock just before the interval through Adam Armstrong.A rejuvenated Town took the second half by storm and Ben Jackson’s 87th-minute equaliser earned th...Full Story »

Russell Martin was proud that Southampton found a new way to win as they extended their unbeaten run to eight matches with a 2-1 victory over West Brom.Will Smallbone and Adam Armstrong’s strikes maintained Saints’ promotion push, but it came in a much scrappier style than Martin would have liked.The Baggies dominated the second half, equalised through Kyle Bartley and could have led...Full Story »

Russell Martin praised Southampton’s bravery as Ryan Fraser was again their late hero at Millwall.The Saints have scored crucial injury-time goals in their last three away games with Fraser, who scored a last-gasp winner at Hull last month, sealing the spoils with a 93rd-minute strike.Martin’s side are now motoring – having also drawn with Preston thanks to Ched Evans’ st...Full Story »

Russell Martin hailed Southampton’s resilience after a last-gasp Ched Evans own goal secured them a valuable 2-2 draw at Preston.Goals from Milutin Osmajic and Brad Potts in three second-half minutes set Preston on course for victory until Evans diverted a 96th-minute corner into his own net while under pressure from Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.Kyle Walker-Peters had put Southampton ahe...Full Story »

Russell Martin challenged Ryan Fraser to kick on after the Scotland international’s late goal maintained Southampton’s promising run with a 2-1 win at Hull.The on-loan Newcastle winger opened his Saints account in the fifth minute of stoppage time to settle a fascinating game of end-to-end football.Martin said: “People ask me, ‘what’s he like as a person?’ &nd...Full Story »

Russell Martin hopes Southampton can kick their Sky Bet Championship campaign on again after putting a bad run of form behind them with a 1-0 win over Stoke.Stuart Armstrong’s first-half free-kick proved the difference at the bet365 Stadium as Saints secured back-to-back victories, while the Potters slipped to their fifth loss in seven Championship games.The victory in the Potteries follow...Full Story »

Caretaker boss Kevin Russell backed new Cheltenham manager Darrell Clarke to take on the challenge of turning their season around at full tilt.Clarke watched from the stands at Sincil Bank as a first-half double from Lasse Sorensen earned Lincoln a comfortable 2-0 win.It means the Robins have failed to score in their first 10 league games of the season – a new EFL record – and have t...Full Story »

Russell Martin has insisted Southampton are through their “toughest period” of the season after beating Leeds 3-1.Adam Armstrong’s classy double and Will Smallbone’s first league goal for Saints – all in the first half – helped end a four-game losing streak.Pascal Struijk pulled one back for the visitors in the second half but Martin was thrilled to get back t...Full Story »

Southampton manager Russell Martin insists Leicester should be criticised as much as his side despite winning 4-1 at St Mary’s.Saints conceded after 21 seconds to a thumping Jamie Vardy finish before Kasey McAteer, Wilfred Ndidi and Stephy Mavididi also netted as the Foxes ran riot.But Martin, who saw Sam Edozie pull one back and Kamaldeen Sulemana sent off late on, thinks the result did n...Full Story »

Russell Martin believes Southampton’s heavy defeat at Sunderland is evidence that his side have not yet shaken off the hangover of last season’s relegation from the Premier League.Saints suffered their first defeat of the Championship campaign as they were hammered 5-0 by the brilliant Black Cats at the Stadium of Light.Martin’s side endured a horror start, going behind to Jack...Full Story »

Southampton manager Russell Martin was proud of his players for beating QPR 2-1 after another week of dealing with transfer disruption.Adam Armstrong bagged his fourth goal of the season after Samuel Edozie and Jack Colback had cancelled each other’s strikes out in the first half.Saints were without Che Adams – who is wanted by Everton – and Bayer Leverkusen-bound Nathan Tella ...Full Story »

Southampton boss Russell Martin felt Che Adams’ stoppage-time winner against Plymouth was no coincidence after a “relentless” second-half showing from his side at Home Park.The clash between last season’s League One champions Argyle and relegated Premier League side Saints looked set to end in a draw after Ryan Hardie quickly cancelled out Nathan Tella’s 49th-minute...Full Story »

Southampton manager Russell Martin admitted his side were too nervous after being bailed out by a 97th-minute equaliser to draw 4-4 against Norwich.Adam Armstrong smashed in the last-gasp penalty to end a thriller at St Mary’s – which had seen the Canaries lead three times.But Martin, in his first appearance in the home dugout on the south coast, was frustrated with the hangover from...Full Story »

Russell Martin criticised his Southampton players for “feeling sorry for themselves” and entering “self-preservation mode” after a shock 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat at Gillingham.Last season’s semi-finalists were stunned in the opening round of this year’s competition as Robbie McKenzie’s double and Ashley Nadesan’s early strike propelled Neil Harris&rs...Full Story »

Southampton boss Russell Martin praised Che Adams’ character after he stepped off the bench to score a late winner as the Saints marked their Sky Bet Championship return with a 2-1 victory at Sheffield Wednesday.Adams was left out in favour of Adam Armstrong, who gave the visitors the lead, but came on and changed the course of the game with his late strike that silenced the taunting home ...Full Story »