Russell Martin has rushed to praise one of his players following their goalless draw against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon.
Southampton’s hopes of securing automatic promotion were dashed by Ipswich Town on Easter Monday and following their 0-0 draw against Blackburn Rovers, they’ve now been dead and buried.
The Saints looked stronger defensively at Ewood Park, but that came at a cost, as Russell Martin‘s men were lifeless in attack.
Registering just two shots on target, their best chance to score came through Joe Aribo’s 25th-minute header that struck the crossbar.
After the game, Martin revealed that his players did a lot of work on the mentality of defending, lauding their defensive play as “brilliant”.
“We’ve scored and created so much in the last few weeks, but conceded too many, so we did some real work defensively this week on the mentality of the team to defend, and so much of that was brilliant,” he told Saints official website.
Jack Stephens was one player who continued his role in defence, operating as a left-back once more.
Jack Stephens new role at Southampton
Stephens’ new role in the side as a left-back has come under fire.
The 30-year-old has spent most of his career as a centre-back, but a recent tactical tweak has seen him move to full-back.
The £45k-a-week titan is tasked with roaming into midfield to help Southampton play out from the back, continuing there in the 0-0 draw at Rovers.
Many supporters aren’t fond of his tactical nuance as they feel it leaves them unbalanced and they’d rather see a natural full-back, such as Ryan Manning or James Bree, play there instead.
Despite the criticism Martin has faced for shoehorning Stephens into the side, he has explained that Southampton won’t revert to their previous set-up unless it stops working.
Russell Martin defends Jack Stephens new role
Supporters will understandably aim criticism at the former Swansea City boss as results haven’t gone their way as of late, however, that won’t stop him from using the Englishman as an inverted fullback.
Lauding his impact as “incredible”, he told the Daily Echo: “He really helps because he always arrives wanting the ball. I hope that by the end of the season, he will be appreciated for what he is, instead of looking at him as a centre-half who isn’t playing there.”
“He is more than that. We are so fast in this country to pigeonhole players from the age of six or seven because of their size and profile and they end up playing there for life.
“He’s an incredible footballer and his mentality is fantastic. I don’t see it as a problem, nor is the formation or how we start the game.
“Some of the build-up today was brilliant. That’s down to how brave Jack and Flynn are. That is why the team looks the way it does and we have 70 per cent possession.”
Jack Stephens stats vs Blackburn
Stephens is excellent with the ball at his feet and against Blackburn, he showed that by recording a 94% pass completion and two accurate long balls.
What he can bring in possession and building up from the back isn’t questioned, but with his presence in the full-back role, the Saints lose their attacking impetus down the left.
Martin says they’ve improved at penetrating through the centre of the pitch, and while that is a positive, it neglects ammunition down the flank.
A natural left-back would perhaps offer the South Coasters added balance and more openings to attack, but with the Southampton boss intent on using Stephens as a left-back, attacking superiority is being pushed to the wayside.