Southampton

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton centre-back Nathan Wood spoke to BBC Radio Solent after Saturday's defeat against Aston Villa: "I've come away from this week with playing two Premier League games - which is what I want - but not winning hurts.

"We're never going to give up as a team. We're really together and we keep battling no matter what. I don't think you can ever question the commitment of the boys.

"The problem isn't the philosophy or style - it's the last bit. We need to score more goals. It feels like we're so close, but we are a long way off [avoiding relegation]."

Listen to the full episode here

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore spoke to the Goin' Home With Adam And Jo podcast about the future of Russell Martin: "The reason I'm on the side of caution is because I've seen it lunge from one thing to another before and still go wrong anyway.

"Everyone wanted Claude Puel out because the football was boring, but they finished eighth and reached the League Cup final. Everyone wanted Ralph [Hassenhuttl] out after fighting hard to keep us up with no money.

"When it goes difficult, everyone turns on the manager. They forget all of the tears and effort for years. Russell Martin got us promoted, and six months later he is the worst manager in the history of football.

"I get that football is about emotion and passion, but if you don't draw a line in the sand as a boardroom and don't have courage in your convictions, and if you keep lurching from one manager to another, I don't think progress is often made.

"However angry you are at Russell Martin, the players are playing for him. I'm worried that it could unravel even more when he's gone because a lot of the players will be telling their agents to try and get them out."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

The latest episode of the Goin' Home With Adam And Jo podcast has landed.

BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore and former Southampton player Jo Tessem discuss Russell Martin's future after Saturday's defeat by Aston Villa.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's four Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 2-2 Man City

• Man Utd 2-3 Nottingham Forest

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton are just the fourth side to have five or fewer points after 15 games in a Premier League season, after Sunderland (five points in 2005-06), and Sheffield United twice (five points in 2023-24 and two points in 2020-21).

Image source, Getty Images

Russell Martin spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Southampton's defeat against Aston Villa: "We lose the game so I'm disappointed. Disappointed at the goal we concede and we got in the final third more than they got in ours. Played some good football, twice through on goal and it comes to nothing. The guys are trying, giving everything. That's all we can ask for. Lack of conviction and quality of decision making in the final third is not quite there.

"We've had a lot of changes in the team. They played well today the two centre halves. It's hurt us a bit with the changes we've made but it's a poor goal to concede. If we concede a good one then we can say OK but the goals we're conceding it's not good enough."

On Nathan Wood: "Brilliant bit of one v one defending at the end. We understand the potential he has and he'll be a good Premier League player in my opinion. The game got too messy in the end because we're trying to get back in the game. We had to try and find a goal from somewhere so we had a lot of attacking players on the pitch and that probably didn't suit us"

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Aston Villa’s performance

What did you make of Southampton’s display?

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

Four matches make up Saturday's Premier League action after the postponement of the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool because of adverse weather conditions, and we will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Southampton

• Brentford v Newcastle

• Crystal Palace v Manchester City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Manchester United v Nottingham Forest - 17:30 - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

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

For week 15 he takes on Dougie Payne, bassist with rock band Travis.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Aston Villa bounced back well against Brentford in midweek, while Southampton paid the price for some calamitous goalkeeping against Chelsea, although the size of their defeat was not just down to that.

Whenever promoted sides do not start the season well, it is easy for them to lose confidence that they can compete at this level and that seems to be a bit of an issue for Southampton when I watch them.

Goalkeeper Joe Lumley was not alone in making mistakes against Chelsea and I just think Villa will be too strong for them.

Credit to Villa keeper Emi Martinez for facing the Bees despite a broken finger. If he plays again here, I reckon he will keep a clean sheet.

Payne's prediction: 2-1

I watched Villa lose at Chelsea last week and they looked knackered. It feels reminiscent of what happened to Newcastle when they were in the Champions League last season. I still don't see Southampton getting anything out of this, though.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Southampton boss Russell Martin has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Aston Villa (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• It is "is touch and go" as to whether centre-back Jan Bednarek will be involved and it "looks a bit unlikely" that striker Paul Onuachu will be fit enough to travel.

• Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Flynn Downes and Tyler Dibling are back from their respective one-match suspensions, which Martin described "as a big boost" for the team.

• On how his side are: "I see a lot of frustration and disappointment but it is being used in the right way. We are going to keep doing little things to be better. It has always been a process. The players and the team are getting better."

• He said "it was a tough night" on Wednesday against Chelsea but it was also probably their best start to a game all season.

• More on the Chelsea defeat: "We conceded rubbish goals. We have to improve that, but it was a good game and it was toe to toe. We had good chances but when you are down to 10 men it's tough."

• He said he is looking forward to playing at Villa Park because although it will be "a big challenge" it is" a great place to go and play at".

• On Aston Villa: "They are a very, very good team. Unai Emery has done an amazing job there. You have to accept and appreciate what they did last season was an incredible achievement. I am sure they will stick by their manager and team because every team has these periods [of tough results]."

• He said Villa's home form is not relevant and "every game is an opportunity and one we have to win because of the position we're in". Martin added: "We aren't trying to grab a draw away from home - because that's not enough."

• On how he is finding the job: "I am doing a job I love, so perspective is really important and at this club I am really happy. We are all in. It's an absolute privilege to be manager of this club and in the Premier League as well. It hurts when you're not winning games."

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

Image source, PA Media

Southampton are the only side yet to score a first-half away goal in the Premier League this season.

The Saints have also had the fewest shots (29) and fewest shots on target (five) in the first 45 minutes of away games compared to any other side during this campaign.

Brighton and Southampton are tracking 18-year-old Motherwell teenager Lennon Miller, with the Scotland Under-21 international also interesting Liverpool and Newcastle. (Daily Mail - subscription required), external

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

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton captain Jack Stephens is set to be suspended for four matches after being sent off for the second time this season on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old defender was dismissed for pulling Marc Cucurella's hair during a set-piece in the first half of the 5-1 home defeat by Chelsea.

Stephens will serve an automatic three-game suspension for violent conduct, and because it is his second red card of the season, an additional match will be added to the suspension.

The previous red card was for a lunge on Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho in September.

That means Stephens will not play again until 26 December, when West Ham visit St Mary's.

When asked about Stephens' disciplinary record, manager Russell Martin said: "He has been amazing for us so I am disappointed for him, for us, but ultimately it will hurt Jack more than anyone."

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton's Jack Stephens was sent off for the second time this season against Chelsea on Wednesday, on this occasion for pulling Marc Cucurella's hair.

The dismissal led to a debate on BBC Radio Solent's Goin' Home with Adam and Jo podcast about whether he should remain as the club's captain.

Former Saints midfielder Jo Tessem said: "Firstly, you are allowed to make mistakes. He made a stupid judgment and did something he shouldn't have done. He knows it and everyone knows it.

"This is a discussion that I think Russell Martin will have. [But] you can forgive mistakes, you can forgive people for doing the wrong thing."

BBC Radio Solent reporter Adam Blackmore said: "The context of it is fascinating.

"The fact is a lot of fans perceive that Russell Martin was playing him a lot last season and this season because it's favouritism, or he likes Jack Stephens and keeps playing him even though he shouldn't be playing on the left and all this stuff. So if he doesn't act, it looks a little bit more like cronyism, and the fans want to see a reaction.

"I think a good leader leads by example and I think in Jack's case, that means possibly someone else should take the captain's armband - for a period of time even.

"In the manager's case, if he's not seen to act strongly with Jack Stephens, will that go down well in the dressing room or would other players also think there should be consequences to your actions?"

Tessem added: "There should be some consequences to your actions. A manager will always have favourites among the players, it's almost impossible not to.

"In the Premier League, because it's such a high level, you've got to play him in his best position. If you don't play him in his best position, you are going to be found out.

"If you think Harwood-Bellis and Bednarek are better players in the centre of defence, then the only place to put Stephens is on the bench, because he's not a left-back or a midfield player."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Dan George
BBC Sport at St Mary's

Image source, Getty Images

Russell Martin once again wanted to make a clear point of the positives in Southampton's performance after the 5-1 defeat by Chelsea.

His side gifted goals to the opposition and were poor defensively, but there were some moments in attack to be encouraged by.

It is also important to note that before a ball had even been kicked, Saints were at a disadvantage.

Three key players - Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Flynn Downes and Tyler Dibling - all missed out because of suspension, while Aaron Ramsdale is out with a longer-term injury and Jan Bednarek was only just fit enough to make the bench.

Jack Stephens' red card also hugely impacted the game.

The side that started was far from full strength but early on they looked to impose themselves on Chelsea.

After 15 minutes, just prior to going 2-1 down, Southampton had dominated the possession with just under 70% and had created chances to score outside of Joe Aribo's leveller.

There was one real moment of quality that Martin celebrated on the touchline that did not even result in a goal.

Saints played out from the back effectively, with Cameron Archer spinning away from his man and running in behind after a long spell of possession with the ball to have an effort blocked.

Martin was very vocal afterwards about how impressed he was by some of his players who came in to the side, including defender and summer signing Nathan Wood, who played his first Premier League minutes of the season.

"I learned a lot about some people," Martin said after the game.

"Nathan Wood, James Bree and Joe Aribo were excellent - they have come in from not playing so much and been really outstanding and I'm proud of them for that.

"Some of the football that we played at 11 v 11 was amazing and we should have been 1-0 up. We conceded such poor goals but the response was brilliant and we were so in the game until a big moment (the sending-off) changed it."

The moments where it works are what the Saints boss wants to build on, but it all comes down to finding a balance in a competition as ruthless as the Premier League.

How long do you stick with this style of play before opting to be more pragmatic to try to get the points to stay up?

Or how long do the Sport Republic ownership stick with Martin before deciding a change is needed?

Martin has not once wavered from his philosophy and, from interactions with some players, they too seem adamant that this is how they play.

To Saints' credit they have made adjustments to their style in some games against tougher opposition but it is still yet to result in points.

However fans will be frustrated by some of the way in which goals are given away and when the ball is lost deep in their own territory.

Supporters loudly booed at full time after defeat to Chelsea on Wednesday night.

Not having Aaron Ramsdale is a big loss with how good he is with his feet and his ability to play out from the back.

Should Martin have given less passing responsibility to Joe Lumley and Alex McCarthy whenever they have come into the side?

The upcoming festive period holds so many games and a real chance to pick up points.

Many have written Southampton off already this season and the games heading into 2025 will be key on determining what the manager and club's future might look like.

Image source, PA Media

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Premier League game between Southampton and Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Southampton fans

Niko: Even After the Brighton game, I was still "Russell in" and was encouraged by the performance, but we have just been humiliated in every aspect of the pitch. The only positive was that Stephens got sent off which means he can't play next game! If we are to stay in the Premier League this season, then we have to let Martin go and soon!

Eddie: Absolutely awful display. Stephens should be stripped of the captaincy. Goalkeeper would struggle to get into a Conference team. Trust the process? I give up. Why should I waste my money watching that?

Mike: Is Russell Martin the only person not to see the problem? The way Saints are gifting goals left, right and centre as a consequence of this daft tactic of passing out from the back is nothing less than ridiculous. The players simply aren't good enough for it. It's actually becoming embarrassing.

Roland: Didn't do Russball very well in Championship, against the best sides. Obvious that we would struggle in the Premier League with players under pressure from the kick off. We will go down even more pathetically than last time. Any good players will jump ship in May, again!

Chelsea fans

David: The Blues have their mojo back... serious contenders.

Chris: Another competent performance, but the defence still needs sorting. Disasi still gives the ball away too much and they were caught out by Southampton too many times early doors! We need a settled side with our best players if we are going to go on and "dominate" this division!

Matthew: Really good performance from us, also really good to score five goals away from home. It's also great to hear the supporters getting behind Enzo Maresca now and it's really good to see us playing like this. Huge away game for us on Sunday now.

Fossie: Really good display. Largely in control of the game and really should have doubled our score, especially after the needless sending-off. Good to see the fans supporting Maresca, he has got the team and the balance well sorted. Still a long way to go in the season, but there is every chance that we are in with a chance of silverware.

Gary Lineker presents highlights and analysis from eight midweek Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Ipswich Town 0-1 Crystal Palace

• Leicester City 3-1 West Ham United

• Newcastle United 3-3 Liverpool

• Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United

• Aston Villa 3-1 Brentford

Dan George
BBC Sport at St Mary's

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton boss Russell Martin has said that Jack Stephens' red card "cost" his side in their 5-1 defeat by Chelsea in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Replays showed that the Saints captain pulled Chelsea full-back Marc Cucurella by his hair as Southampton had an attacking corner.

Referee Tony Harrington referred to the pitchside monitor before showing Stephens a straight red card for the incident.

"I don't think anyone will be more disappointed than Jack," Martin said.

"He'll be hurt more than anyone and it changed the game a bit for us tonight.

"I'm disappointed for him and us, it's a moment of madness that has really cost us."

This was Stephens' second sending-off of the season, having previously been dismissed when Manchester United won at St Mary's in September.

He is the first Southampton player to be sent off twice in a Premier League season since Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in 2018-19.

"I've not even seen it but they explained to me what happened," Martin added. "I don't think it's really violent conduct but there's no explanation for it really, is there?"

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Southampton's performance, external

What did you make of Chelsea's display?, external

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