Everyone associated with Southampton will be licking their wounds following the defeat to Leicester City on Tuesday night.
Southampton went into the game knowing their chances of automatic promotion were slight.
However, after a disappointing 2-1 loss against Cardiff City on Saturday, the trip to Leicester represented an opportunity to put things right ahead of what we now know will be the play-offs.
Not only did Russell Martin‘s side fail to do that, they were left embarrassed as the Foxes struck five past a helpless Alex McCarthy.
Whilst the Southampton boss has to take some responsibility for such the 5-0 defeat, his players did little to help his cause in a display that has left fans worried about the upcoming play-off fixtures.
Russell Martin on what ‘hurt’ him against Leicester
Understandably, Martin was in a solemn mood after the defeat at the King Power.
The Saints boss spoke to Sky Sports shortly after the full-time whistle, with the nature of the defeat clearly weighing heavily on the 38-year-old.
The ex-Swansea City manager had made the decision ahead of kick-off not to risk Flynn Downes given automatic promotion was unlikely regardless of the result.
However, even without the midfielder he has previously labelled the ‘best in the league’ Martin could not have foreseen the battering his side took at the hands of Leicester.
In his post-match interview, Martin lamented has side as he said: “We defend pathetically after we go two goals down.”
He went on to highlight what disappointed him most about Southampton’s performance, saying: “We go into self-preservation mode after that individually.
“The worst thing you can do in football is try and protect yourself and feel like you’re doing just enough in your bit rather than help your teammate and I don’t like that trait in my team today, not one bit. And that really hurts.”
Martin let down by Southampton players against Leicester
It is difficult to argue that Martin was not let down by his players against Leicester.
The scoreline was humiliating, but the manner in which some of his players downed tools will anger the Southampton manager most.
Kyle Walker-Peters has been one of the Saints’ standout performers this season.
However, the 27-year-old was really poor as he allowed Abdul Fatawu to ghost in behind him for the first goal before lazily attempting to stop a Stephy Mavididi cross for the second.
Adam Armstrong is the club’s top goalscorer this season but offered next to nothing, whilst David Brooks was equally disappointing on the other flank.
Southampton now have two Championship games remaining prior to the play-offs and how they perform in those two fixtures will tell Martin a lot about his players.
After such a poor showing, places are up for grabs.
Speaking to Sky, Martin was clear about who will play in the play-offs as he said: “The players that want to fight and want to run most will play.”
The message could not be clearer now it is for Southampton’s players to rise to the challenge.