Amazing’ Southampton player has just given Russell Martin a huge selection headache
Southampton again made unnecessarily hard work of a game on Saturday, letting a 2-0 lead slip before eventually securing a 4-2 win to inflict Sunderland’s sixth consecutive defeat.
Southampton took the lead through Stuart Armstrong after just nine minutes, before Ryan Manning was brought down in the box prior to Adam
Armstrong converting the penalty for his 18th goal of the season.
It seemed at that point that it would be a relatively straight forward afternoon for Russell Martin‘s side, but his team do not like to do things the easy way and conceded in the 62nd minute and then again in the 71st minute to set up a nervy finish; these goals taking Southampton’s goals conceded tally to 18 in the last eight games.
Bournemouth loanee Joe Rothwell replaced Stuart Armstrong in the 73rd minute, before his quick-fire double in the 77th and 80th minute ensured Southampton took all three points and this cameo now gives his manager a real decision to make.
What did Russell Martin say about Joe Rothwell?
Martin was understandably concerned after the match about his side’s defensive woes and it could have cost them all three points had it not been for Rothwell’s intervention on Saturday.
Speaking post-match, Martin said: “I’m delighted we have won but am furious and frustrated we have conceded two goals because it shouldn’t happen”.
Whilst the ex-Swansea City manager could not hide his anger at conceding twice, he was full of praise for two-goal hero Rothwell.
Speaking on the 29-year-old, Martin said: “He was really great when he came on. Him and Joe Aribo can be frustrated that they aren’t starting but they have two guys in front of them who have been playing really well.
“It is good problems for me but they have to keep doing what they have been doing when they get on to the pitch and being frustrated at not playing”.
