Following their sixth league defeat at the hands of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, Southampton entered the international break with a clear need to address their shaky start to the Premier League season.
Russell Martin’s men have shown glimpses of resilience alongside some disappointing performances but are still searching for their first league victory.
Their encounters with Manchester United and Arsenal highlighted moments of quality, yet they struggled to maintain consistency after conceding.
Meanwhile, teams like Brentford and Bournemouth ruthlessly punished the Saints’ defensive lapses, storming to 3-0 wins and exposing Southampton’s fragility at the back.
Goalscoring, a concern early on, has seen some improvement with Southampton finding the net in their last three matches.
However, the challenge for Martin’s side lies in maintaining composure and focus across 90 minutes, ensuring they put in complete performances in both attack and defence.
Martin Highlights Southampton’s Growing Confidence:
With the international break behind them, Russell Martin reflected on the team’s progress over the past fortnight. He pointed to growing belief within the squad after a battling display against Arsenal, suggesting that Southampton are ready to turn their season around.
“We haven’t got as many players away this time around which is good. We had a practice match at the training ground which was really good. I think we have taken a lot of heart, encouragement and belief from the Arsenal performance. I’m really excited about the Leicester game,” Martin said.
Southampton had almost a full squad available during the break, with only five players away on international duty.
The opportunity to train together has allowed the team to work on previous shortcomings, which Martin believes has boosted morale ahead of their next fixture.
The Saints are now looking to translate their hard work on the training ground into points, with Martin viewing the upcoming clash with Steve Cooper’s Leicester City as a potential turning point in their campaign.
A win against Leicester at home could provide the much-needed lift for Southampton, injecting momentum into their season. Martin is expected to field a similar lineup to the one used against Arsenal, with Cameron Archer likely to start up front in place of the injured Ross Stewart.
The outcome of this match could be pivotal, as Southampton aim to secure their first league win and build consistency in their performances.