Southampton

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Russell Martin says his team "never listen to what is being said externally", as the Saints continue their push for Championship promotion this season.

Martin's side are still holding on to the possibility of automatic promotion to the top-flight but recent results against Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town have seen them slip 12 points behind second-place Leeds United.

"In the same way we always do, we never listen to what is being said externally. In the same way, when we were 25 games unbeaten, we didn't listen to all of that," said Martin.

"So I was really bullish and protective over the players on Monday [after the Ipswich Town defeat], because I thought the performance was so good."

Southampton still have eight games to play before the end of the season, with a possible 24 points up for grabs, and their next challenge comes against Blackburn on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Martin confirmed Stuart Armstrong will be unavailable for selection after picking up a concussion against Ipswich Town. He said the midfielder "took a really big whack to the head" from Massimo Luongo and he hopes Armstrong will be back for Tuesday's game against Coventry City.

Saints will also be without defender James Bree, who received a straight red card in the 85th minute of their 3-2 defeat to Ipswich Town.

Martin had plenty of praise for Blackburn and their manager John Eustace, stating: "I really like them, in the same way I did when they came to our place. They play good football. They are very young, athletic and with good energy.

"I think they are well capable of results. On Monday, [against Sunderland] I thought they were outstanding. But they have had a few brilliant performances that haven't quite translated into results.

"So I'm sure John has been feeling very frustrated because they have been doing really good things. He's a really good guy. I think they had a really good manager in Jon Dahl Tomasson, who has gone, and they have replaced him with another good manager.

"It is a club with a plan, and they are just going through a bit of pain early on in terms of what they are trying to build. But I think they are doing some really good stuff. They will be desperate to get the manager's first home win."

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Is Jason Wilcox poised to leave Southampton for a role at Manchester United?

Alfie House, who reports on Saints for the Daily Echo, spoke to BBC Radio Solent's Saints and Sinners podcast about the director of football's potential move to Old Trafford.

"Recruitment staff are coming in and they're being plucked after three months like Joe Shields [who was head of senior recruitment at Southampton before he left to join Chelsea]," said House.

"What's happened is that Manchester United have made an official approach for Jason Wilcox after maybe briefing it in the media six or seven weeks ago just to try and test the waters. Saints have rejected that offer.

"Jason Wilcox, we've been told has resigned, but the club haven't confirmed that so we are waiting to see whether that happens. It means he can't serve for Manchester United for 12 months unless they agree on a compensation figure which is going to be more than a year's salary, which is what was initially offered.

"The timing [of Manchester United's approach] did annoy me, it ruined the occasion for me. It was 15 minutes before kick-off [against Ipswich on Monday], I couldn't wait for the biggest game of the season and the next 45 minutes I've spent face down in my laptop trying to work out exactly what is going on and it ruined it for me."

BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore added: "I get annoyed like everyone that the big clubs just come in and swoop. Actually, don't give me the project thing at our forum last August and then disappear after a year as well."

Former Premier League winger Wilcox joined Southampton as director of football last summer after the club's relegation to the Championship and hired current manager Russell Martin.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Former Southampton forward Jo Tessem believes the failure to kill of Ipswich in Monday's defeat at Portman Road is symptomatic of Saints' season so far.

Russell Martin's side came from 1-0 down to lead 2-1 at half-time but - after missing key chances to make the game safe - were pegged back after the break and eventually lost to a dramatic Jeremy Sarmiento winner in the final seconds of injury-time.

The defeat could be the final blow to Southampton's slim hopes of automatic promotion as they slipped to 12 points behind Leeds in second - albeit with two games in hand over the Whites.

"Same old story, it's becoming a little bit boring and a little bit easy to criticise for people," Tessem told the Goin' Home With Adam and Jo podcast.

"I agree with Russell Martin, we played good football, it was forward playing football which we want to see but it's the moments in games where we need to be better.

"Defensively, offensively and certain stages of what goes on and we're not yet there.

"It shows again that you don't need to dominate possession to win football matches.

"We were very direct in the first half, playing forward and that's good football but then when the moments come you have to kill the game off. It's there and you have to take them.

"I'd rather we play this kind of football, if we played this way all through the season I don't think we'd have lost the four in a row. That's the problem. Against Ipswich we played a brilliant football game but we lost because we didn't take our chances and there were moments in the game we should have been better. If you lose these kind of games you can hold your hands up and say 'we played the right football'.

"Ipswich were very clever tactically, they were smart, waited, rode their luck a little bit and then used their left side where they have a very offensive left-back who won the game for them.

"Then we have to criticise Gavin Bazunu a little bit. A top top keeper will keep you in the game on the last two goals."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Harry Tizard
Fan writer

It's been a frustrating few days for Southampton, who have only collected one point from their last two matches and have dropped further behind their rivals in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

The Saints have played two fewer matches than second-place Leeds United but are 12 points off Daniel Farke's men and will almost certainly be in the play-offs come the end of the campaign.

Yet it could've been so different for Southampton. Russell Martin's men dominated their home match against Middlesbrough, with Che Adams wasting two huge chances before Boro snatched a late equaliser.

It was a similar story against Ipswich Town. It was a closer contest, but Southampton had enough opportunities to beat the Tractor Boys, who came from behind to secure all three points in the 97th minute.

Martin says it how it is and knows his side should have come away with six points. Criticising the manager for players missing opportunities is lazy. His style can be frustrating, and it's not perfect.

However, if Southampton fail to get promoted, it will be because of the massive wasted chances he has no control over and not the tactics.

Harry Tizard can be found at The Saints Score, external

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Russell Martin says it is a "beautiful thing" that Southampton are being overlooked for an automatic promotion spot with 10 games remaining.

Saints begin their run-in by hosting Middlesbrough on Good Friday and then travel to fellow promotion chasers Ipswich Town on Easter Monday.

"It is going to be a really busy five weeks and I think everyone is excited about it," said Martin. " I think the beautiful thing for us is that we have been written off by everyone.

"We have a tough game against Middlesbrough who are in good form. They have been unlucky if you look at their data and they probably should be higher up the table.

"Over the international break, the guys that have been here have been fantastic. I have really enjoyed working with them."

The Saints boss confirmed defender Jan Bednarek "should be available" for Friday's game after helping Poland secure a place at this summer's Euro 2024.

David Brooks, who has been ill but also featured in that same play-off game for Wales against Poland, is also expected to recover in time.

Elsewhere, defenders Juan Larios and Walker-Peters returned to group training during the break, while forward Ross Stewart "is back on the grass doing light training."

Wolves are leading the race to sign Southampton and Scotland striker Che Adams, 27, when he becomes a free agent in the summer. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

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

Harry Tizard
Fan writer

Southampton have 10 games left to play in the Championship and have been dismissed by many as candidates for automatic promotion.

There is still a chance to sneak into the top two and for that to happen they need three things:

Go back to basics in defence

First, Russell Martin's men must stop conceding so many poor goals.

Southampton kept nine clean sheets during their 22-game unbeaten run and completely controlled the tempo of matches. But they now only have one shutout in their previous seven outings and have lost three times to fall behind their rivals.

Have faith in the manager

Fans need to trust Martin at this crucial stage. The manager has owned up to mistakes and is still learning, but with nine games in less than a month, he will make unpopular choices based on what he has seen.

Resting and rotating is vital. Otherwise, injuries are a guarantee.

Get results against rivals

The obvious, yet most important, thing the Saints must do is take points off their rivals.

With Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Leeds United to play on the road, Southampton can either drag their name back into the mix or take it out completely depending on the results.

Harry Tizard can be found at The Saints Score, external

We asked you for your feelings about Leicester City's alleged breach of profit and sustainability rules and the prospect of a points deduction if found guilty.

Here are some of your responses:

Andy: Overspending clubs and slow feeble points deductions cost Saints their Premier League place last season and could now cost us promotion back this season. When will the league prevent billionaires treating the game like a Las Vegas roulette table?

Elijah: There are many issues behind this charge. It should be on this season, just the same as it has been for both Everton and Nottingham Forest. As for it being carried over to next season, it is unfair on the other three teams going for promotion this season, as that deduction could be the difference between the play-offs and automatic promotion.

Steve: For whatever team finishes third and seventh in the Championship this season, it will be completely unfair if it is deemed that Leicester's squad has been compiled on the basis of financial cheating and no points deduction is made for this season.

Andy: Southampton were rubbish last season and we deserved to be relegated. Leicester breaking the rules is a shame, but we were going down either way. Come on you Reds!

Joe: It depends on a few things. If Ipswich keep up their form and get what would currently be third, and if Leeds do the same and get second, then that would translate to first and second and wouldn't make a difference to Saints. If either fall off then it could change how Saints fans feel as we could move to first or second if Leicester get points deducted.

James: I am more concerned with the Everton and Nottingham Forest charges. I am less concerned if you break the rules and get relegated, than the teams who broke the rules and stayed up. It seems half the teams Southampton fought against for Premier League survival were allegedly financially cheating...

On the latest episode of the Saints and Sinners Southampton podcast, Tom Deacon and Dan George discuss Saints' promotion push and the reality of the play-offs.

"The top three are forming their own pack now and we've still got to play those three," George said as he contemplated remaining fixtures against Leicester, Leeds and Ipswich.

"The reality is that it will be the play-offs because I just can't see Leeds losing at the moment."

Listen to the full episode

Leicester City have been charged by the Premier League with allegedly breaking spending rules during their past three seasons in the top flight.

The Foxes have been referred to an independent commission for breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and failing to submit audited finances.

If found guilty, they could face a points deduction that might spill into next season, regardless of whether they are promoted.

However, with six weeks to go, it is unlikely the situation will be resolved before the end of the Championship promotion race.

Leeds fans, tell us how you feel about the situation

Southampton supporters, what do you make of it?

Harry Tizard
Fan writer

The international break has come at the wrong time for Southampton, with there being 20 days between the Saints' 4-2 win over Birmingham City and their next match against Middlebrough.

Watching the Championship from the outside this weekend, as the fixture against Leicester City was postponed due to the Foxes' involvement in the FA Cup, it felt like the promotion pendulum firmly swung in the direction of Leeds United and Ipswich Town, with the pair winning on home soil at a canter.

Southampton have two games in hand and have every chance of collecting maximum points to go right behind their rivals, but any dropped points would feel like a massive blow at this stage of the season.

The Saints' extended break, just one day short of three weeks, gives the players a much-needed rest and a chance for Russell Martin to get some time on the training pitch to emphasise his style.

However, having nothing on the fixture list then drastically turns to never-ending, with Southampton forced to cram nine games in 29 days before their season finale against Leeds United.

Southampton must be clinical and get games done early so players can be rested for the match ahead.

Harry Tizard can be found on The Saints Score, external

Southampton will try to sign Argentine forward Matias Soule from Juventus if they are promoted to the Premier League, while Crystal Palace, Newcastle United and Aston Villa are also interested in the 20-year-old. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external

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