'We didn't think it was going to be quite this bad'

Martin's exit came just months after Southampton's 1-0 win over Leeds in the Championship play-off final in May

Many Southampton fans have said they were unsurprised by Russell Martin's sacking after a 5-0 drubbing against Tottenham on Sunday.

Martin led the Saints to an immediate return to the Premier League in May after a Championship play-off final win against Leeds at Wembley.

But the club's performance back in the top flight has been dire with just one win from 16 matches and the club already trailing 17th-placed Leicester by nine points.

"We knew it was going to be tough this season. But we didn't think it was going to be quite this bad," Mike Smale, who runs the MatchDayVlogs YouTube channel, said.

"I've met many great fans through the stuff that I do…but the resounding sense is that we want to see the club do better."

Sunday's defeat was the fourth time Southampton have conceded five goals in 45 minutes as a Premier League club. No other team has experienced that more than once.

Former Swansea boss Martin led Southampton to their one league win of the season against Everton in November.

"I think he should've gone weeks ago," Summa Symonds told BBC Radio Solent.

"I think he should have gone after the Wolves defeat [in November, which Saints lost 2-0] but it's disappointing it ended up getting this toxic.

"I always like to have that bit of hope…but I think we're inevitably going down now. I just cannot see us getting out of this drop zone. Obviously we need a manager to come in and turn things around quite quickly."

Southampton lost to relegation rivals Wolves In November - Wolves manager Gary O'Neil was also sacked on Sunday

Martin Sanders said he wants Southampton to emulate similar-sized clubs like Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford who have established themselves in the top flight over recent seasons.

"[Russell Martin's] problem was he was so stubborn in how he wanted to go about playing football," he said.

"I love him for what he did last season. He gave me one of the best days of my life [at Wembley] - and many other Southampton fans - and he will be remembered for that. But this season, he's just been so naïve at this level.

"The thing that surprised me most [on Sunday] is that Martin takes a lot of stick but his players threw him well and truly under the bus. They were really poor and a few of them need to have a long, hard look in the mirror because they really let the club down."

Martin was appointed Southampton boss after leaving Swansea in June 2023

No Premier League club has maintained their league status after winning five points following 16 games.

But former Southampton midfielder and current BBC Radio Solent summariser Jo Tessem said there are still glimmers of hope.

"We have to be realistic. We came up from the Championship; we were fourth in the Championship. We have a squad that is not the strongest in the Premier League and the Premier League will eat you alive," Tessem said.

"But if you get something positive and get a togetherness with the players you never know what's going to happen. That's why we love football: you never know the answer to the next thing."