Southampton 0 – 5 Tottenham

Backside membership Southampton had been booed off and Russell Martin was subsequently sacked after struggling a 5-0 defeat to Tottenham.

Martin had overseen 13 defeats of their 16 video games since promotion again to the highest flight in the summertime. They’re caught in twentieth, already 9 factors from security and at the moment are on the lookout for a brand new boss.

In his programme notes, Martin had referred to as on Saints followers to “hold believing” in his gamers regardless of the predicament they at the moment discover themselves in. Any impact these phrases may need had on supporters was quickly eradicated.

With simply 36 seconds on the clock, James Maddison swept the opener after Djed Spence simply introduced the ball ahead by way of the center of the park. It was the earliest Saints had conceded within the Premier League since November 2013.

It was 2-0 after 12 minutes when Heung-Min Son slotted house after Jan Bednarek’s poor header, and 3-0 two minutes later, with Son turning supplier for Dejan Kulusevski to show the ball house from shut vary.

That was sufficient for the house followers to direct their frustrations in direction of Martin, however the fourth from Pape Sarr – following abysmal defending within the twenty fifth minute – sparked a mass exodus from St Mary’s. It was the earliest Tottenham had led by 4 objectives in a Premier League sport.

Martin trudged down the tunnel earlier than the half-time whistle and never solely missed the extraordinary boos from the house followers that greeted it, however Maddison’s second of the night, from the tightest of angles.

There was no such depth within the second half. The truth is, Spurs solely tried a single shot within the second half, with Son, Maddison and Dominic Solanke withdrawn with one eye on Thursday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final in opposition to Manchester United, which is reside on Sky Sports activities.

Thursday nineteenth December 7:00pm


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Southampton did attempt to scale back the deficit, with Tyler Dibling arguably their greatest menace. Mateus Fernandes headed in late on, however knew he had strayed offside instantly. Finally, they might do nothing to take the gloss off; the job was already accomplished.

Martin earlier than sacking: Boos harm me as a supervisor however I’ll battle on

Underneath-pressure Southampton supervisor Russell Martin chatting with TNT Sports activities straight after the sport:

“I am harm on the first half. We simply do not reply very effectively to setbacks as a gaggle.

“Finally, it is harm us loads this season. We concede so early and now we have an opportunity to foul Djed Spence in the midst of the pitch, and we do not. Then we’re 1-0 down, after which the response after that’s extremely poor. So very disappointing.

“In all probability essentially the most disappointing factor is now we have a plan that I really like the week’s coaching. The gamers have been part of that course of, however we do not perform with anyplace close to sufficient intensive aggression, as a result of we concede actually the primary motion they’ve the ball. So then that is right down to mentality and nonetheless wanting to stay to it.

“So I did not recognise our group within the first half. I am happy they caught at it within the second. Nevertheless it’s a troublesome night time.”

On whether or not boos from house crowd have an effect on him: “As an individual, no. As a result of I perceive it is not private. I do not know them and they do not know me.

“As a supervisor, yeah, after all, it hurts me. It hurts the group, however I additionally perceive it.”

Requested the place he goes from right here: “I feel now we have no selection however to work and battle. It is all I’ve accomplished since I have been on this job, and it is all I will proceed to do till I am advised in any other case.”

Ramsdale: I really feel very sorry for Martin

Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale chatting with TNT Sports activities:

“A troublesome one. The early objective sucker-punched us and we simply by no means recovered.

“Give the credit score to Tottenham – James Maddison participant of the match.

“Tonight’s an actual troublesome one for us to take.”

On Russell Martin: “I really feel very sorry for him. I feel the lads are nonetheless making an attempt for him. I do not suppose there’s any query of something on Russell Martin.

“The followers do deserve higher and so they’re sticking with us, and it is one now we have to maneuver on in a short time forward of Wednesday.”

Ange praises senior gamers Son and Maddison: They had been catalysts in win

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou talking at his post-match press convention about his senior gamers Son and Maddison standing up:

“Yeah, they had been sensible. I feel they sensed that they wanted to tonight. We’re simply unfold so skinny that we’re asking younger gamers and gamers who have not performed loads and others who’re taking part in on a regular basis to go on the market and nonetheless attempt to play to our identification, nonetheless attempt to play the soccer we wish to and I believed they had been each a catalyst for that tonight with each their soccer but in addition their mindset of simply going on the market.

“We needed to begin robust right now. We type of knew we would most likely run out of gasoline on the finish of the sport contemplating the line-up we had on the market and coming off Europe on Thursday night time, so I feel the gamers sensed that and credit score to them that they began the sport that means.”

On the win: “Actually happy with the gamers. Clearly we had a troublesome away European fixture on Thursday night time [at Rangers]. We had 10 first-team gamers unavailable for quite a few causes right now, so out of a squad of 25 you do the sums.

“We requested plenty of them to once more go on the market and dig into their wells of vitality and a pair we put on the market have not performed for ages so the truth that boys can play with such vitality and high quality is simply excellent and actually happy that they get the rewards for it as a result of they deserve it.”

Story of the match in stats…

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