Southampton

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Southampton defender Nathan Wood has been speaking to BBC Radio Solent about making his Premier League debut for the club earlier this month.

Following his summer move from Championship side Swansea City, Wood waited until 4 December for his first Premier League appearance for Saints.

He has started the past two Premier League games against Chelsea and Aston Villa, and hopes to keep his place against Tottenham on Sunday.

Wood said: "Personally it's been nice to play my first two games in the Premier League, but it's still disappointing that we haven't taken any points from those two games. We'll be looking to put that right.

"I want to play every game, I've trained hard this week and hopefully I get to prove myself again."

Southampton are bottom of the table with five points from their first 15 games, leading to pressure on boss Russell Martin.

But Wood said he has the full backing of the squad, adding: "You can see it in the lads and the way we play, we're doing what he wants us to do and we're working hard for each other. That shows that we back the manager.

"From our perspective, we've got a bunch of lads that are going to give everything every time we step on the pitch. We'll give everything, no matter what."

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Southampton manager Russell Martin has provided an update on contract negotiations with teenager Tyler Dibling.

The 18-year-old winger has been one of Saints' star performers in the Premier League this season.

Martin said: "There is an option that we can extend and I don't think we want to do that because we want to reward Tyler for his performances [by offering new terms].

"I've spoken to Tyler's mum and dad about it, and I've spoken to Tyler, but then I'm not involved in any negotiations. It's down to Phil [Parsons, Southampton chief executive], the owners and Tyler's agent, and I think that's where it gets tricky.

"We have offered what I believe is a very good contract for someone of his age, but at the moment I don't think his agent agrees, so that's where we're at.

"Tyler wants it done, his parents want it done, so we'll see how long that takes."

Some media reports have linked Dibling with a move away from St Mary's, but Martin said: "I was told about some rumours of Manchester United wanting to bid £21m. I'm not sure they'd get his left foot for that."

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The staff at Southampton are trying to help restore the confidence of the players after such a difficult start, says boss Russell Martin.

Saints sit bottom of the Premier League table on five points, which Martin called "incredibly hurtful and embarrassing" ahead of Sunday's home game against Tottenham.

"The biggest job is to eliminate the external noise - but it is so difficult," said Martin. "Maybe at times we are the only voices telling them that they are good enough.

"Even family members will question them. I have been there as a player. Agents, supporters obviously, media pundits - everyone questions if you are good enough or not good enough.

"It is about being able to switch that off and zoom in and focus on what is really important.

"We are trying to do as well as we can with our lads."

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Southampton boss Russell Martin has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Tottenham at St Mary's Stadium (kick-off 19:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Centre-back Jan Bednarek and striker Paul Onuachu are both available for Sunday's game. Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy is also fit enough to return, while Aaron Ramsdale could feature against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup next Wednesday.

• Martin is hopeful Onuachu will help the Saints "moving forwards" as he "gives a real alternative option that's different to anyone in the squad and most people in the league."

• Martin addressed Southampton's league position, saying: "It is incredibly hurtful and embarrassing to be on five points."

• He also insisted Saints should have won more points.

• On how he hopes to turn around Saints' fortunes: "We are not far away and we have to just keep working, keep concentrating on the process and ourselves and just keep trying to be better."

• On why Southampton have not done as well as he hoped: "There have been a few too many mistakes and a few too many moments that we haven't managed well" but his side "are growing and getting better."

• On helping to restore players' confidence: "The biggest job is to eliminate the external noise - it is so difficult. Maybe at times we are the only voices telling them that they are good enough. It is about being able to switch that off and zoom in and focus on what is really important."

• Martin has a lot of respect for Tottenham counterpart Ange Postecoglou's brave aggressive tactics and his refusal to compromise: "I get criticised for the same thing, about being stubborn and all that stuff, but if you believe in something and it's taken you a certain way in life then to deviate too far from that is crazy."

• More on his shared style of play with Postecoglou: "People only criticise the ones who are a little bit different from the norm. So if we all believe the same thing that would be pretty boring, but we would be less open to criticism."

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

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We asked for your views on what was the one thing - good or bad - that no one is talking about Southampton.

Here are some of your comments:

Ben: Aside from Russell Martin's refusal to adapt his tactics, absolute key to poor performance in the Premier League has been poor recruitment, especially in the last third. Sport Republic, the club owners, have rolled the dice on players who 'may' come good, or young unproven players that could show a good return on investment if they continued their improvement from youth level. Although the owner has invested in players in the striking department, all of them are totally unproven and the goal stats do not lie. We just don't finish chances. A more prudent strategy would have been to recruit one decent proven striker instead of a handful of strikers that are not fit for purpose.

Ceri: The owners! Their strategy is clearly at fault. If these owners persist in buying many poor quality players, instead of spending money on one or two decent players, we will continue to be a yo-yo club.

Ethan: No one talks about how good Flynn Downes has been this season and in general for us. He is consistent and covers so much ground. We would probably be on even fewer points without him.

Ross: Why did we let Carlos Alcaraz go? I know he is imperfect, but he is a creative influence, and added a bit of nastiness into the midfield, which we solely lack. Big Paul Onuachu is supposedly not a fit with Martins style, but he's looked like he could work too.

Michael: All the talk this season is about sacking Russell Martin, but no-one is talking about that 25 game unbeaten run we went on last season! Not to mention the fact Martin got us promoted at the first attempt. Yes, we've made our worst start to a Premier League season under him, but he also holds the record for longest unbeaten run in the club's history! Let's not forgot that!

Owen: The lack of accountability from the players. As an example, 'that goal' against Liverpool where McCarthy rolled it out quick. I get the manager is asking them to play a certain way, but he's an experienced player with nearly 15 years in the Championship and Premier League. Why doesn't he know that's a moment to take a breath, slow it down, reset? Not good enough from our experienced squad members.

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BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore has reiterated his belief that Russell Martin should remain as Southampton manager and thinks the club would have more chance of benefitting in the future if the former Scotland international stayed in charge.

Speaking on the latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's Saints and Sinners podcast, Blackmore said: "For the long-term financial benefit of the club, if everybody could stomach and stay on board with the strategy, it may work.

"I absolutely believe it has more chance of working long-term than to keep changing your manager every year or two.

"If you're paying money as a fan to put up with what's in between that, I get it. It doesn't mean I'm wrong and you're right, but it just means we can see many different viewpoints.

"I respect fans for being angry and frustrated, they pay their money and they want to see their team win football matches.

"But, if they want the club to progress it's not as simple as let's spend 10 or 12 million pounds sacking the manager and bringing a new manager in, paying his staff and getting new players in January - we might end up having PSR issues.

"It's never as simple as we want to make it - there's something more noble about saying 'this is where we are, we believe in it, we're going to stick with it' but how often does that happen in football? Very, very, very few times."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

The latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's Saints And Sinners podcast has landed.

Tom Deacon and Adam Blackmore try to find positives in the current dismal situation at Southampton

Listen now on BBC Sounds

Southampton's league results and position, as well as what the future holds for manager Russell Martin have all been much debated.

But given you know Saints the best, we want you to tell us the one thing - good or bad - that no-one is talking about regarding the club right now?

Have your say here

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

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Is the writing on the wall for Russell Martin?

As fans, we feel it is just a question of when. But will Sport Republic stick and give him another chance in the Championship, as relegation seems likely, or twist in an attempt to salvage something from this dreadful start?

During our ill-fated 2022-23 campaign, we had amassed 12 points at this same stage - a period that included wins at Leicester and Bournemouth, and at home against Chelsea.

Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl was sent packing in early November following the slow start, and our 11-year stay in the top flight came to an end.

Fast forward two years, and things appear even worse. One win from 15. Five points and propping up the table. A position from which no club has survived before.

Saturday's defeat by Aston Villa left Saints with just one point on the road - a record that now extends to 15 top-flight away games.

We have made 10 mistakes leading directly to goals and are in danger of breaking Derby County's 2007-08 unwanted record of 11 total points.

Still, Sport Republic is yet to pull the trigger or even address the situation.

Is it as easy to just replace the manager?

You can draw more parallels with that relegation season. The much-loved Hasenhuttl departed and was replaced by Nathan Jones, who himself lasted only 14 games. If we were doomed for relegation anyway, why not stick with Ralph at the helm. Replacing the manager now seems futile.

There is also the question of who could come in. It does not appear an attractive position for any manager right now. Do we really need another Nathan Jones situation?

It does appear more likely that Sport Republic are looking ahead to next season. Sticking with Martin and saving some money in the meantime. Not willing to make the same mistakes.

But it leaves the fans with five more months of misery before preparing for another season in the Championship.

It is hard work supporting this club.

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

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Southampton.

Here are some of your comments:

Aston Villa fans

Paul: Not all wins are glamorous. Some are forgettable and played in horrible conditions. Both give you three points. Villa got the job done unscathed and credit to them.

Mike: Less than 50% possession, and made hard work of a poor opponent, but a win is a win and hopefully a corner has now been turned after the recent sticky patch.

Brian: We give the ball away far too often and I don't think we would have scored another goal even if we kept playing until Sunday.

Hadders: Laboured performance - a better team would have beaten us. Jaden Philogene and Ross Barkley are just not good enough to make a positive impact when they come on but it's three points so we have to take the positives ahead of the huge game on Tuesday.

Southampton fans

Cliff: I'm so embarrassed to be a Saints fan right now, which is something I thought I'd never say. Another terrible toothless display. Sack Russell Martin now, and change the style of play ASAP.

Rich: The players made a fist of it for the most part, but we were toothless up front, either wanting an extra touch or an extra pass which invariably gave the ball back to Villa. Martin's subs made the team weaker, which shows how poor our squad is.

Bert: I have been supporting Saints since 1948 and I can honestly say it is the worst team in all those years.

Gary: I would rather go down and keep Martin than replace him. Under him we play an identifiable style and the players are still totally committed. We have failed to replace Jason Wilcox and probably not recruited well enough . Martin took a side that probably wasn't good enough up - I think that says more about him than Sports Republic.

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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

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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

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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).

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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