Russell Martin: Southampton are 'hunting' Championship's top teams

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Saints boss Russell Martin faces the press.Image source, Getty Images
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Southampton boss Russell Martin says he has a "brilliant" side who are "buying in" to what he is trying to achieve

Southampton boss Russell Martin says they "have a big job to do" as they "hunt" down the Championship's top two.

Saints are in fourth place, one point behind Leeds in third, after a six-game unbeaten run including four wins.

Leicester and Ipswich are 15 and 10 points ahead of Saints in the automatic promotion places, but Martin said they will keep chasing the leading sides.

"We have to keep driving and hunting the teams above us while trying to make sure we stay away from those below us."

Only six points separate Leeds in third with Blackburn in 12th place.

Southampton travel to a struggling Millwall side on Saturday looking to extend their impressive recent run.

Their opponents, who sit in 18th place, have won only one of their last seven Championship matches.

But Martin is quick to recognise the challenge of facing The Lions on their home turf.

"Millwall are a really proven and experienced Championship team that every year have been in or amongst it," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"Watching them this year is no different. They are fighting, they work extremely hard for each other, they have good athleticism, good size and are really good at what they do.

"Millwall away is never an easy game. The Den can be a really good occasion.

"You have to go there and understand what the game means to the club's supporters and recognise the environment and its hostility.

"We have a lot of players that have played there before and some who haven't so it is up to us to prepare them for that.

"We have to go there with the same mentality that we have had over the last six games to try and turn it into a game that we want it to be, to control it as much as possible, to really fight and run.

"It's up to us to make sure it doesn't get too comfortable at any point.

"We have a brilliant group of players who are buying in, believing and taking real pride in what they are doing and that's enjoyable. We need to keep that going."

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