Russell Martin believes Southampton’s togetherness and spirit will help in their push for an immediate Premier League return after they fought for a much-needed, last-gasp 4-3 win at 10-man Birmingham.
Having been relegated with a whimper last term before enduring a difficult start to life in the Sky Bet Championship, Saints then went on a club-record 25-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
That streak ended 18 days ago with the first of four defeats in five games, with three of those losses coming in the league as their hopes of automatic promotion began to fade.
Martin’s men desperately needed to return to winning ways to kick-start their promotion bid and substitute Joe Aribo’s stoppage-time strike completed a breathless victory at St Andrew’s.
“The identity of the team has changed and how it functions and how it plays, and what is important to the team,” the Saints boss said after catching his breath. “But the biggest change has been in that (spirit).
“I think how together they are, how much they believe in each other, how much they trust each other, how much they care for each other.
“And that just takes time and hopefully they see that the same thing from us as a group of coaching staff.
“It has been amazing and they are so together and they feel everything together.
“Football has a tendency to make you into a bit of a robot, really, emotionally, especially when you’ve been in the game for a long time.
“You have a bit of like scar tissue from previous battles but been amazing to see some of them open up and be a bit vulnerable.
“To play the way we play you have to be a bit vulnerable sometimes with the ball because it’s a bit scary. I have nothing but gratitude for that and I’ve loved watching it.
“That spirit will help us for sure in the last quarter of the season.
“I’d rather not win in the last minute, but I think it’s down to togetherness and spirit, and also the amount of work they put into opposition teams with the ball.
“They make teams have to run really, really hard and it tires people out.”
Saints were on top for large parts but twice came from behind in Birmingham, where Koji Miyoshi and Jay Stansfield efforts were cancelled out by Adam Armstrong and David Brooks respectively.
Che Adams went on to put the visitors ahead against his former club, who were reduced to 10 men when Blues skipper Dion Sanderson was sent off.
Birmingham dug deep in the absence of boss Tony Mowbray and Juninho Bacuna equalised, but Southampton were not to be denied as Aribo sparked stoppage-time celebrations.
Assistant Mark Venus, who felt Sanderson’s red card was undeserved, said: “It must have exciting for the fans. It was emotional sat there, to be honest.
“I think if you just look at the end of it, we got to 90-odd minutes with 3-3 with 10 men and just to concede the last goal is heartbreaking for everybody, really.
“I think they were dangerous every time they put the ball in the box and bottom line is we rode our luck.
“We played against a good team in the league and showed a lot of character.”
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. He's Henry. Oh, he's the new Henry. Palmer's reaction after Nicholas Jackson didn't pass the ball How people count from 1 to 7 in different countries Since Kylian Mbappe left PSG a year ago, they have...Won the one trophy he couldn't while he was there: the Champions League Knocked his new club, Real Madrid, out of the Club World Cup Ousmane Dembele: PSG's Superm...
The future of Luis Diaz remains a topic at two of the biggest member-owned clubs in world football, as Bayern Munich and Barcelona both pursue Liverpool winger Luis Diaz. The Colombian has left his future open on multiple occasions, and with no sign of a new contract on the horizon, Liverpool are stuck between a rock and a hard place.Diaz reportedly has a gentleman's agreement with Liverpool that ...
Tyler Dibling has a lot of suitors this summerThe 19-year-old caught the eye during a disastrous season for Southampton which saw them relegated from the Premier League with just 12 points.Dibling was one of a very few bright sparks of the campaign and may well make an immediate return to the top flight.The Telegraph reported earlier this year that the Saints wanted an enormous £100m for thei...
Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a fee of around £55 million ($74.7m) to sign West Ham midfielder Mohammed Kudus, a source confirmed to ESPN's James Olley.The Ghana international has agreed a six-year contract, with a medical set to take place in next 48 hours, a source added.ESPN previously reported that West Ham had rejected a £50 million ($67.9m) offer from Spurs.Kudus, 24, has an £...
Milan explore move for Leverkusen's BonifaceAC Milan have officially opened dialogue with Bayer Leverkusen regarding the potential transfer of Nigerian striker Victor Boniface, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.Boniface previously came close to securing a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr earlier this year, but the deal ultimately did not materialise. With his future at Leverkusen uncertain, Milan...
Renato Gaucho's Fluminense were eliminated from the Club World Cup by Chelsea.Fluminense's trip to the Club World Cup semi-final should net Brazilian coaches more respect, the club's manager Renato Portaluppi said on Tuesday, after their improbable deep run in the tournament ended in a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.The former striker, who steered the team to the 1995 Rio de Janeiro championship as a playe...
Yan Couto’s Club World Cup spark fuels Borussia Dortmund ambitionsBrazil international Yan Couto has his sights set on locking down a starting spot at Borussia Dortmund, with confidence high after a standout Club World Cup.The right-back featured in every match for the Bundesliga giants before their journey ended in the quarter-finals with a 3-2 loss to Real Madrid in East Rutherford.Despite...
Tottenham and Liverpool to enter transfer race for Parma defender LeoniParma defender Giovanni Leoni is wanted by several clubs this summer and now it seems like Liverpool and Tottenham have entered the race for him.The centre-back is only 18 years old, but has already made 17 Serie A appearances after enjoying a rapid rise in Serie A in recent years since joining the side for just 34.1M from Samp...
Everton sign Villarreal striker Barry: The fans here are crazy people, I like this!Everton have completed the signing of Thierno Barry from La Liga side Villarreal The 22-year-old has become the club’s second signing of the summer as manager David Moyes continues to make drastic changes to his squad ahead of the new season. Barry joins on the back of an impressive debut season in La Liga, in...
Arsenal U18 v Manchester United U18: FA Youth Cup Quarter FinalArsenal’s preparations for the 2025-26 season are underway, and one of the most eye-catching developments at London Colney this week has been the presence of 15-year-old prodigy Max Dowman in first-team training. The highly rated youngster was involved in the senior squad’s pre-season fitness and technical sessions on Wedne...
- 1 Five players ask to leave Man Utd including Rashford, Antony, Garnacho and Sancho
- 2 Diogo Jota's wife arrives at chapel where tragic star's coffin is taken
- 3 Daily Laugh - If Arsenal get Gabriel Heinze
- 4 Garnacho reveals he intends to stay in the Premier League after Man Utd departure
- 5 Lionesses captain Leah Williamson strips down to her underwear
- 6 Man Utd make shock move to Calvert-Lewin
- 7 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 8 Harry Kane, that's awful! England captain's error costs Bayern as Desire Doue & Ousmane Dembele send NINE-MAN PSG into Club World Cup semi-finals in feisty clash that sees Jamal Musiala suffer sickeni
- 9 New coach confirms Modric move to Milan
- 10 Bayern ready to rival Arsenal for Eberechi Eze and target move for Chelsea flop after losing Jamal Musiala to injury