“Southampton manager Russell Martin expressed his satisfaction with the aggressive approach displayed by his team in their victory over Leeds United at St. Mary’s Stadium on Saturday.
Before their encounter with Southampton, Daniel Farke’s Leeds had enjoyed a six-game unbeaten streak in the league but found themselves trailing by three goals at halftime. Adam Armstrong scored twice, and Will Smallbone found the net, with Pascal Struijk managing to reduce the deficit in the second half. However, Southampton secured all three points largely due to their dominant performance in the opening half-hour.
Speaking to the media after the game, Martin said, “I’m extremely proud of the players. I mentioned yesterday how positive the atmosphere was in the camp, considering our recent results. They fully committed themselves, displaying increased aggression within the team dynamics this week, but in a positive and constructive manner. On the field today, there was notably more intensity and determination. In the first half, there was a great deal of bravery in our play, resulting in some high-quality goals. Hopefully, the fans will appreciate our performance.”
Leeds struggled to advance beyond their own half while in possession during the early stages of the match, as Southampton’s high press and aggressiveness in United’s defensive third proved stifling.
In the second half, Southampton adopted a more defensive posture to protect their lead but remained a threat on the counterattack.
“I didn’t particularly enjoy the second half, but I did appreciate the other aspects of our game. The team displayed unity and resilience, making it challenging for the opposition. Leeds had minimal offensive impact and posed the greatest danger during set-pieces,” Martin commented when assessing Farke’s team.
Southampton had endured a four-game losing streak leading up to this fixture, but they quickly took the lead within two minutes when Armstrong exploited space between Leeds’ defenders and executed a chipped finish that beat Illan Meslier at the near post.
While Martin acknowledged complaints from Leeds regarding Southampton’s first and second goals, he maintained that the absence of VAR for the first goal and Crysencio Summerville’s off-pitch situation during the build-up to Smallbone’s goal should not serve as excuses for their defeat.
Leeds will be back in action on Wednesday evening when they host Queens Park Rangers at Elland Road.”
Leave a Reply