Russell Martin fumes over controversial referee decisions in Millwall defeat
Southampton fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Championship strugglers Millwall on Saturday afternoon, leaving them five points adrift of second-placed Leeds United.
Russell Martin‘s side have lost three of their last four games and are starting to lose ground on their promotion rivals.
The Saints boss delivered a pretty strong verdict on the referee’s performance post-match and labelled two Millwall challenges as a ‘disgrace’.
“I am furious at the manner of the goals we’ve conceded. Some of the stuff was good but we have given a team something to hang onto again. It’s ridiculous,” Martin told BBC Radio Solent.
“I think it’s the softest free-kick in the world for the first one. Two of their tackles were a disgrace but I am not going to blame the referee – we didn’t do enough to get back in the game and win the game.
“We have to stop conceding first. We had a mountain to climb to get into the game. Second half we have a few big chances but we don’t score – if we get the goal I think we go on to win it.
Southampton starting to slide
Southampton‘s 25-game unbeaten run seems a distant memory now and their progress towards the Premier League is beginning to unravel.
Some boos rang around St Mary’s at the full-time whistle on Saturday afternoon, with the defeat leaving them in fourth place.
With the strength in depth Southampton have in their squad, finishing in the play-off positions would feel like an underachievement to many.
Though it has to be said, they’ve been up against a trio that is setting mind-blowing numbers in the Championship.
Automatic promotion harder than ever
The Championship promotion race this season has been unlike any other, with a record points tally likely needed to secure a position in the top two.
As it stands, Leicester City are currently on course to reach 105 points, one point adrift of Reading’s record-breaking 106.
Meanwhile, Leeds United and Ipswich are both projected to achieve 97 points, meaning any tally less than that will likely miss out on automatic promotion.
Southampton are averaging just under two points per game and are in line to reach the 90-point mark, though, staggeringly, that may not be enough.
Martin’s team have their work cut out to close the gap on the top two and they must get back to winning ways on Saturday when they make the trip to St. Andrew’s to face 18th-placed Birmingham City, but before that, they meet Liverpool in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Tuesday.
