Southampton fans will want to forget their side’s 5-0 defeat to Leicester City on Tuesday night in a hurry.
Russell Martin saw his team outclassed and outfought, as the defeat took their opponents to the brink of a Premier League return.
It also condemned Southampton to a play-off spot; although this was likely regardless of the result at the King Power.
Fans would have hoped to see a reaction following the loss at Cardiff City on Saturday.
The Saints never really got going, though, and found themselves 1-0 down after 25 minutes.
Abdul Fatawu was the scorer, as he ran in behind a sleeping Kyle Walker-Peters before slotting home despite appearing offside and a potential foul on Che Adams in the build-up.
Martin had clearly given his players a real talking to at half-time, as they came out the blocks fast in the second-half.
However, the Saints failed to manage a single shot on target in the game and after Wilfred Ndidi made it 2-0 on 62 minutes they fell apart.
Jack Stephens’ classy gesture following Leicester loss
Whilst Leicester are top of the league for a reason, Southampton’s performance was inexcusable.
Martin watched on as his side failed to create anything meaningful in attack and crumbled in defence.
At full-time the players wanted to get out of Leicester as soon as possible.
However club captain Jack Stephens made sure they fronted up the travelling fans who had made the journey up from Southampton to support their team on a Tuesday night.
In a video posted on ‘X’, formerly Twitter, Stephens can be seen heading towards the travelling contingent to clap the fans before turning back to ensure his teammates do the same.
It would have been easy to shy away following such a humbling.
Stephens showed why he has the armband, as he made sure the Southampton players showed their appreciation for the supporters who have stood by the side through thick and thin.
Russell Martin makes Stephens claim
Stephens had entered the game on 83 minutes, as Martin turned to his skipper to make sure the scoreline did not get any worse.
Leicester did not score after Stephens came on, but the damage was done.
Now, with two effectively meaningless game ahead of the play-offs, Martin has to pick his players up ready for those season-defining clashes.
It looks as though he is going to trust his captain to help him do that and Martin’s comments after the game alluded to his Stephens being a feature of the side moving forward.
Speaking post-game, Martin simply commented: “If Jack’s playing tonight, we don’t lose 5-0. My fault.”
Southampton lack leaders and now is the time for their captain to be in the side regardless of who has to drop out.