Russell Martin believes Southampton should have more points on the board in the Premier League this season ahead of their clash with Tottenham on Sunday.
The Saints have won just once this season, with two draws collecting a dismal five points, leaving them bottom of the table after losing their remaining twelve games since promotion.
Southampton are winless in five games in the top flight, having lost their last two in the top flight and have a goal difference of minus 20, having conceded 31 goals while scoring just 11.
“We shouldn't be on the points we have now. It's incredibly painful and embarrassing to be on five points; we should have more,” said Martin.
“But there have been a few too many mistakes and a few too many moments where we haven't done well.
“We have had disappointments in matches and setbacks, but we have to keep trying to grow – to grow as a group, to grow individually and to prepare the players for the moments when it is difficult and find ways to cope emotionally can go.”
pic.twitter.com/TRrYy2Yvi5
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 10, 2024
They face a Spurs side struggling for form, with Martin saying he has “great respect” for under-press Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs have won just one of their last eight games in all competitions and are currently winless in five games, with the manager under scrutiny for his playing style.
Postecoglou's side sit 11th in the table, seven points behind the top four heading into next weekend, and he is keen to get the basics right to get back on track at St. Mary's.
“We cannot ignore the situation we are currently in,” Postecoglou said. “We are very limited at the moment in what we can do from a team perspective.
“There are many players who play a lot of games and they give everything, but they will lack sharpness because we cannot give them any rest.
“Within that context, it's about making sure there are some basic principles in our game that we carry through.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Southampton – Ben Brereton Diaz
Ben Brereton Diaz has not won any of his 24 Premier League games during spells at Sheffield United (fourteen) and Southampton (ten), drawing six and losing 18.
Only Oliver Burke (25) has had a longer winless streak since the start of his Premier League career, and it is a streak the striker will want to end as soon as possible.
Tottenham – Dejan Kulusevski
Dejan Kulusevski could make his 100th Premier League appearance in this match, with his first also coming against Southampton in February 2022.
He has 21 assists in the league, with only Son Heung-min providing more for Spurs since his debut (24).
This guy pic.twitter.com/0kktC9Y1Ns
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 12, 2024
MATCH PREDICTION: TOTTENHAM WIN
Tottenham are unbeaten in their last thirteen Premier League games against sides starting bottom of the table (W10 D3), since a 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion in May 2018. Spurs have scored 42 goals in this series, making at least one scores a goal. three times in each of the last eight.
In fact, Spurs have failed to score in only one of their last 22 Premier League meetings with Southampton, a 1-0 defeat in January 2020.
However, Postecoglou's side have lost 14 of their 33 Premier League games so far in 2024 (W14 D5), just one fewer than in 42 games in 2023. The last time they lost more than 15 league games in consecutive calendar years was in 2002 ( 15). 2003 (20) and 2004 (15).
Southampton, meanwhile, have won just one of their last 28 Premier League games (D6 L21), with their 1-0 win over Everton in November being their only clean sheet in their last 27 games in the competition.
The Saints have also lost just one of their last six home games against Spurs (W2 D3), losing 5-2 in September 2020.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Southampton – 25.3%
Draw – 22.5%
Tottenham – 52.3%
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