Martin: Let's make Saturday special

Martin saw his side narrowly beaten at Newcastle on Saturday, but Saints were the dominant team at St James’ Park, suggesting they are more than capable of mixing it with their top-flight peers.

Next up is the first home game of the campaign, as Nottingham Forest provide the opposition at St Mary’s on Saturday (3pm BST).

“I think we will take so much from that as a club, as a team, as a group; that we can come to the Premier League and be ourselves and do what we want to do, and hopefully do it wherever we go,” Martin said of the Newcastle trip.

“After watching that today I feel enthused. I feel absolutely gutted right now for everyone, because we deserved more, but you don’t always get what you deserve in football and life.

“By the end of the season we will get what we deserve, and if we play like that we will deserve to be in the Premier League still."

Last time Saints played at home in a competitive match, St Mary’s was the setting for a raucous night against West Brom in the Championship play-off semi-final second leg.

With the Northam Stand fully safe standing for the new season, and with various other stadium improvements in place for Saints fans, Martin is hoping for a similar atmosphere against Forest.

“Next week will be brilliant," he added. "We have to use the anger and frustration and disappointment of today, that feeling of loss, and stick with the courage, confidence and belief they will have taken from it.

“We have a chance to really make next week a special day.”