Martin looks ahead to Swansea showdown

A sold-out St Mary’s will welcome the teams on Tuesday, as Saints look to make it three wins in a row and extend their unbeaten run to 16 matches.

While the identity of the opponents will create an obvious story around Martin and his staff, he isn’t building the game up in his own mind.

“I want to win, so I think it's the same as any other game,” he said.

“I think we obviously know a lot of their players very well and they know us very well, so it's definitely a bit different.

“I have a lot of affection for a lot of people at that club and some of the people that will be in the crowd as well. I made friends there that will be friends for life, I'm sure.

“It'll be nice to see people and catch up with people who were brilliant for us in our two years there, but ultimately I want to win the game.

“They will want to win the game, so I don't know if that makes it any more special or not, but hopefully we win and then then I can enjoy seeing people after, because if we don't win, you don't enjoy any of that.”

Having picked up a hard-fought win on the road at QPR on Saturday, Martin is looking forward to returning home, where Saints have won five in a row.

“I love being there,” he said. “I think the players are really enjoying it now, hopefully the supporters are really enjoying it. That today [against QPR] was amazing.

“My eight-year-old was in the crowd for his first away game and he just told me there was ‘limbs’, so I think that's a good thing!

“I’m really, really grateful for those sorts of memories and moments, and we have a chance to all feel good and nice, and have a good feeling again on Boxing Day and over Christmas and just keep the run going on, because what the players are doing is just incredible.

“I’ve got so much respect and gratitude and pride, and feeling for this group of players that we just need to keep growing and keep building it.”