Southampton

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Russell Martin spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Southampton's defeat against Manchester United: "Any level when you don't respond to a set back, we were brilliant up to that point then we missed the penalty and it changes the atmosphere, changes the momentum a little bit.

"But if you defend set plays in that way, that's not about Premier League talent, that's not defending properly. That's a mentality thing. I'm sure people will point to that being the Premier League and being punished but we have to defend better at whatever level we're at."

On the second half: "It's difficult because they do things at 2-0 up that they don't do at 0-0 when there's a bit of tension in their game because of the problems we caused them.

"But we were still in the game, the longer it went on, I felt we were getting into it a bit more than we get a man sent off and it's almost impossible to claw it back. Then it is about avoiding too much damage.

"The mentality of the players was great until the 96th minute when we let a ball inside us in the box, which is unacceptable so I'm annoyed about that.

"But the lads gave everything and I saw so much to be positive about."

On change of shape: "I'm so happy with so much stuff. We don't lose because we get carved open, we lose because of two moments in our box and a missed penalty. Then we can't recover from that so it's frustrating but I'm really happy with some of what I saw."

On Tyler Dibling: "He's a really, really talented player. We have to manage the expectation and his load because he came off with cramp. He's an outstanding young man and an outstanding talent, we love working with him."

On need to get first point: "Then everyone relaxes. I feel that we're so close to being very, very good and very competitive. But we can't keep defending second-phase set plays like we did today."

Click here to listen to BBC Radio Solent's post-match interview with Russell Martin

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

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For the first half hour of this game Southampton fans were very much enjoying their afternoon in the sun.

The Saints were playing some slick football and causing Manchester United numerous problems, and looked set to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty midway through the first half.

But Cameron Archer's effort from the spot was not the best as it was saved by Andre Onana, and that proved decisive as Manchester United then scored two quick goals to effectively end the game as a contest.

This defeat means Southampton have lost all four Premier League games on their return to the top flight and this latest loss will only serve to increase doubts among some Saints fans that Russell Martin's style of football will prove capable of keeping their side up.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Southampton’s performance, external

What did you make of Man Utd’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Read the match report and follow reaction

There are eight Premier League games on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you all the action and reaction throughout the day.

All time are BST

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BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries:

• Liverpool v Nottingham Forest

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Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week four, he takes on Femi Koleoso and Ife Ogunjobi from jazz band Ezra Collective, the 2023 Mercury Music Prize winners.

Sutton's prediction: 0-2

With three defeats out of three, Southampton have obviously not made a great start in terms of results.

There has been a lot of scrutiny of the way they play too, and of Saints boss Russell Martin's principles in playing out from the back, with people comparing them to what Burnley were like last season.

Martin has to have a philosophy of how he wants his team to play though, so I do have sympathy for him. I don't believe there is a narrative against him either - it is just that, in their last game, Brentford pressed them high and they made mistakes and conceded some poor goals.

It is going to be difficult for them against Manchester United too. Erik ten Hag's side have their own issues, which means people don't predict United's results, they guess them. But they should - should - have too much quality for Saints.

Southampton will try to be bold but that probably means they will give up chances and, because I've seen Marcus Rashford has been having extra training sessions, I am going to back him and United to take them.

Femi's prediction: 1-1

I still think United are suffering from a Sir Alex Ferguson hangover. They have not sorted the club out upstairs, even though it is more than 10 years since he left. I think they will drop more points here.

Ife's prediction: 1-2

I am going with Manchester United to edge it.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Southampton centre-back Jan Bednarek has signed a three-year contract extension at St Mary's.

The 28-year-old joined the Saints from Lech Poznan in July 2017 and his new deal could see him reach a full decade of service at the club.

Bednarek featured heavily in Southampton's promotion charge last season, making 45 appearances and scoring two goals in the Championship, as Russell Martin's side bounced straight back up to the Premier League.

Speaking to the club after signing his extension, the Poland international said: "I'm in the right place, with the right manager and the right fans.

"We created something special and I think this was the only decision I could make - to extend the contract and stay here."

On the latest episode of The Devils' Advocate podcast, BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater discussed Manchester United's next match against Southampton on Saturday:

"Southampton play this stupid style of football which worked in the Championship. They try and be really positive on the ball with the defence and it isn't going to work in the Premier League.

"This is where we see a good example of the things that we have improved on, like pressing from the front. We are playing a team whose players are substantially weaker than ours, so we should be getting at them.

"If we don't win, Erik ten Hag is in big trouble."

Joe McGrath added: "I think we will do well, but I struggle to say where the goals come from. I think we'll have a really controlled game and win 2-0."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist

Southampton boss Russell Martin has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Manchester United (kick-off 12:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• The manager said "changes will be made" to the side for the game against Manchester United, adding: "After three defeats, there inevitably will be changes. How many, you'll have to wait and see and who. It's such a difficult position because I feel fiercely loyal to players who have got us into the Premier League so I have to balance that loyalty from what they did last season to what some of them are actually doing now and the place they are in right now."

• The Saints boss feels his side "have learnt a lot in the first few games" and that they are "really close to being who we want to be and what we want to be".

• On the international break: "I've enjoyed the break in terms of seeing what we really need to focus on."

• Ben Brereton Diaz was substituted 35 minutes into Chile’s 2-1 loss against Bolivia in their 2026 World Cup qualifier but Martin said it is "not an injury so I guess the coach has his own reasons".

• On the scrutiny he has faced in recent weeks: "It doesn't overwhelm me one bit, it's just part of the job. It's the same last season, we had a period at the start where we had a really tough time and then people can say what they want with very little recourse and will judge us based on a highlights reel of eight minutes so I treat it all the same. There were people that called me a terrible appointment for the club and said they need to make a change after losing four games [last season]. There will be the same people doing that now after three games, three defeats, so I treat it all the same."

• All players have come back injury-free which is "all you can ever ask for as a manager after an international break".

• Martin said the club didn't plan to have such a big squad, stating: "Some of the outgoings didn't come off and didn't quite go to plan so leaving a lot of good players out of the squad isn't easy but it's up to us to manage that."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

BBC Radio Solent's sports editor Adam Blackmore believes Southampton will "get better" if they keep playing the way they are in the Premier League.

Speaking on the Saints and Sinners podcast, Blackmore said: "The whole point of having a coach is to coach. The idea is that Southampton keep playing that way and get better and by them getting better and adding players like [Tyler] Dibling and [Mateus] Fernandes and [Cameron] Archer into the mix, these great young talents, adding them in as we go, I hope Saints will improve obviously and start winning games.

"The problem is, a lot of supporters if it doesn't go right for the next month or two will go 'what is the point in having this philosophy because it doesn't earn us points, we're supposed to be winning football matches.'

"How many Burnley fans do you think at the end of last season went 'this relegation is fine because actually we played really nice patterns in the final third and got into the penalty area on so many occasions, oh great our manager has gone to Bayern Munich because his data was fantastic.'"

Tom Deacon added: "Southampton have to come up with a new system that will hopefully, eventually, win games.

"Why is Ben Brereton Diaz out wide? He's on the touchline, that is a wasted position for him, he should be in the middle and then you go back to old 4-4-2 football. It's not revolutionary and then we would need exceptional players that we can't afford to maintain that.

"I think it's about holding one's nerve. We see the players looking happy on social media, they seem a team, they seem united.

"Whatever you think about Russell Martin, he has got a clear vision and the players seem to react to him."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

The latest episode of Saints and Sinners is available now on BBC Sounds with comedian and Manchester United fan Mick Ferry joining the panel to preview the Red Devils' trip to St Mary's Stadium on Saturday.

BBC Radio Solent's sports editor Adam Blackmore also returns to the podcast to debate whether Russell Martin's tactics can lead Saints to Premier League survival.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Southampton have lost all three of their Premier League games so far this season. They could become the first side to be beaten in their first four matches in three campaigns in the competition, previously doing so in 1998-99 and 2012-13.

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

It's been a good time for an international break for Russell Martin and co.

Saints have three defeats from three, have only one goal scored and are languishing in 19th in the table. The only solace was progression in the Carabao Cup and some encouraging production off the bench on an otherwise shambolic start to life back in the Premier League.

With Manchester United at St. Mary’s up next this weekend, Martin has some decisions to make.

In terms of personnel, a few candidates have staked their claims for starting spots.

Cameron Archer, scored a brace in the cup, Adam Lallana came off the bench for the final eight minutes at Brentford and grabbed an assist. Mateus Fernandes picked up a goal and an assist in the first start at Cardiff. But perhaps the brightest star in the opening month has been the surprise package of Tyler Dibling.

He is yet to start in the league but has been involved in all three games off the bench and turned some heads. In the Forest loss, he came on for the final 12 minutes, made three successful dribbles and won five duels. He was rewarded with a start at Cardiff in the cup and bagged two assists. I felt his inclusion would have warranted a start at Brentford, but had to settle for another appearance off the bench.

Hopefully his time will come this weekend. Ideally, I’d like to see a formation change to a 4-3-3 with Jack Stephens the unlucky omission from the back five. Archer to be given a go from the off as that central figure, with Will Smallbone and Joe Aribo making way for Dibling and Mateus Fernandes.

Find more from Ray Hunt at the In that Number podcast, external

The Premier League’s summer transfer window saw clubs spend almost £2bn in all.

Data from Footballtransfers.com, external shows the biggest net spend by a club - that’s all the money spent minus all that came in from sales - was Brighton.

The Seagulls had a net spend of £153.5m.

On the flip side, the club who generated the biggest net summer profit on transfers was Manchester City, who made £115.8m, thanks in large part to the sale of Julian Alvarez.

Southampton had a net spend of £68m.

Southampton striker Paul Onuachu has turned down a move to Turkish side Goztepe. (Sabah - in Turkish), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Saturday's full gossip column

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Earlier, we asked you who has made the most Premier League appearances for Southampton.

James Ward-Prowse holds the record, having made 343 top-flight appearances for the Saints before his move to West Ham in 2023.

Who has made the most Premier League appearances for Southampton?

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 BST

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We asked you for your thoughts on Southampton's transfer window, their start to the season and where you believed they would finish.

More than half of you said Saints would end up in the relegation zone based on what you had seen so far - and that was borne out in many of the comments we received.

Here's a snapshot:

Richard: The most worrying thing is Russell Martin's refusal to adapt his (playing out of defence) style despite being against better teams and with his own less skilful players. I was encouraged by their play-off performances but bottom place beckons with a record fewest goals scored I'm afraid.

Peter: Saints are making opposition teams' lives way, way too easy. We are too predictable and take too many liberties in front of our own goal. When we attack, we don't get numbers in the box quickly enough. We have some really decent players, but need more cutting edge and less madness in defence.

Paul: I think it's always difficult when you're the last team to be promoted as you have less options to buy players and less time to bond with any available. I think if the fans can keep supporting Russell and the team then things will turn around once there's been more time to realise the best combination of what we have now. That will happen.

Dave: Unless they make significant changes to their style of play and eliminate the mistakes at the back while actually scoring goals up front, they are doomed. If they persist in the pressing style, they need an overhaul of the defence, which can’t now happen until January by which time the damage will have been done.

Hedley: Football = a simple game, only complicated by those who play it! It is foolish to take unnecessary risks in an area where you don't need to take risks. In and around your own penalty area you play ultra-safe. In the opposition penalty area is where you may take risks, in a way that may lead to your team to score a goal.

Laurie: I am bitterly disappointed with the Southampton way so far. We conceded over 20 goals in the Championship last season by playing out from the back. It's simply not working and these failings are actually embarrassing the club. Change in the system needs to happen now otherwise Russell Martin goes or relegation looms.

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Southampton's style of play is frustrating.

We saw what happened to Burnley last season when they were too stubborn to adapt and change from playing out from the back and there is a naivety in that. Southampton have come up with the same issue.

Russell Martin doesn't ever want to change his style of play and you could see that in the Championship last season. He does not adapt, even when they were conceding goals from the back early on in the previous campaign.

I don't think he will change and I think that will be a problem for the Saints.

At the other end of the pitch they don't have the cutting edge to be affording the mistakes in conceding. They were heavily reliant on Adam Armstrong last season, but he isn't a proven goal scorer in the Premier League despite having played for them for one season in the top-flight.

Fans like to watch attractive football, whether that comes with results or not, but the game is about getting results. Once you start to lose games it is very difficult to get that momentum back and trust within what you are doing.

Dominating possession does not win you games and that is something Martin has to look at. It will be a difficult season for them if they don't take on other styles or ways of playing. But that work should have been done in pre-season and not when the games come so quickly.

The fans will be buzzing that they are back in the Premier League but now it is about staying up. And for them to do that, they have to find alternative ways of playing to get results.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

The dust has settled on the transfer window, the Premier League is well and truly back, and we are into the first international break of 2024-25.

So we want you to predict where Southampton will finish in the Premier League this season - thinking about their start to the campaign and summer transfer business.

Submit your prediction here

And also, please tell us what is the one thing - good or bad - you have learned about the Saints so far in the campaign?

Let us know your thoughts here, external

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Former Southampton midfielder Stuart Armstrong has joined Major Soccer League side Vancouver Whitecaps.

The 32-year-old was a free agent having ended his six-year spell with Saints in the summer.

Whitecaps sporting director, Axel Schuster said: "We are very excited to welcome Stuart and his family to Vancouver.

"He is a player who has excelled for many years at the highest levels in the United Kingdom, as well as internationally with Scotland."