SAINTS manager Russell Martin insisted his side "lacked fight, aggression, spirit and togetherness" in their 3-1 defeat at AFC Bournemouth. The Cherries raced to a three-goal lead through record signing Evanilson, Dango Ouattara in fortuitous fashion and Antoine Semenyo at Vitality Stadium. Defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis spared Southampton embarrassment with a header but they never looked likely to mount a second-half fightback.
Martin resisted making in-game changes until half-time, following a tactical switch of formation ahead of the match, but admitted he could have moved sooner. He told the Daily Echo : "I think it surprised me, I was a little bit hurt by the response to conceding as we started the game so well. Russell Martin with a small gesture of apology to the travelling fans.
#SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/jvSyh7Zj3V — Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) September 30, 2024 "Maybe after two goals, maybe I should have changed it but maybe I just put too much trust in the guys out there that we'd get through that.
"We were much better in the second half but whatever personality you have on the pitch and whatever way you play...
"If you lack the fight and aggression and spirit and togetherness and courage that we lacked in the first half, you're going to have a big, big problem. "We spoke about Bournemouth taking quick set plays and playing forward and all of their strengths, which is why it hurt even more." He added: "I feel we prepared the team to understand the opposition's .
