Martin keen to take positives despite late setback
Russell Martin was frustrated by the manner of the late equaliser Southampton conceded in the 1-1 draw at Watford, but was keen to see the positives in his side’s work up to that point.
Saints took a 56th-minute lead through Ché Adams, scoring his first goal in four months, and looked on course to see the job through for a third straight win and clean sheet.
Instead substitute Rhys Healey struck an unlikely – and untimely – equaliser six minutes into stoppage time when his low shot squirmed through the fingers of Gavin Bazunu, whose performance for 90-plus minutes had been exemplary.
“I’m frustrated, really frustrated with the quality of the goal we concede – really poor,” the manager reflected.
“I thought we’d managed the game really well up to that point. We weren’t hanging on, Watford didn’t really create much, we looked a real threat on the counter-attack. We had some brilliant moments with the ball when they sent so many people to the press and we played through them.
“I really liked the second-half performance on the whole. The first half was a little bit slow, lacking a little bit of energy. It was fine, we had a lot of control, and we limited to them not very much. They had a big chance, Gavin saved it when Sema went through, but set-piece was their biggest threat really.
“In the second half Gav has another brilliant save to make, they went a bit more direct, but we dealt with it really well on the whole. We looked a real threat – we had so many breakaway moments when we had 3v2, 4v3, that need to come to more. You score the second goal, it’s done.
“We don’t quite do that. If you’re not going to score the second, you need to keep a clean sheet. I think they defended brilliantly, the guys, on the whole, but the goal is really poor. It shouldn’t go in, but it’s not me blaming anyone.
“It’s a group, they’ve been amazing, we’re 12 unbeaten, there’s loads to be positive about, but also to be really annoyed with the quality of the goal we conceded to let them equalise so late. It hurts and it’s frustrating, so now we need to use that frustration as energy for the rest of the week.”
Martin revealed Flynn Downes missed the game at Vicarage Road with illness. The midfielder did travel to Hertfordshire to join up with the squad, but woke up feeling unwell and was not fit to feature.
