Martin embarrassed by Southampton´s Premier League points tally

Russell Martin believes Southampton should have more points on the board in the Premier League this season ahead of their clash with Tottenham on Sunday.

The Saints have won just once this season, with two draws adding up to a dismal five points, which leaves them bottom of the standings having lost their other 12 games since promotion.

Southampton are winless in five matches in the top-flight, losing the last two on the bounce, and have a goal difference of minus 20, having conceded 31 goals while scoring just 11.

“We shouldn’t be on the points that we are. It is incredibly hurtful and embarrassing to be on five points – we should have more,” said Martin.

“But there have been a few too many mistakes and a few too many moments that we haven’t managed well.

“We have had disappointments in games and setbacks, but we have to keep trying to grow – to grow as a group, to grow individually and prepare the players for those moments when it is tough and find ways for them to cope emotionally.”

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— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 10, 2024

They face a Spurs side struggling for form, with Martin saying he has “a lot of respect” for under-pressure Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs have won just one of their last eight matches in all competitions, and are currently winless in five, with the manager coming under scrutiny for his style of play.

Postecoglou’s side sit 11th in the table, seven points behind the top four ahead of the weekend, and he is keen to get the basics right to get back on track at St. Mary’s.

“We can’t dismiss the situation we’re in at the moment,” Postecoglou said. “We’re very limited at the moment what we can do from a team perspective.

“There’s a lot of players playing a lot of games, and they’re giving their all, but they’re going to lack a little bit of sharpness as we cannot give them a rest.

“Within that context, it’s about making sure that there’s some basics in our game that we push through.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Southampton – Ben Brereton Diaz

Ben Brereton Diaz has not won any of his 24 Premier League games in spells at Sheffield United (14) and Southampton (10), drawing six and losing 18.

Only Oliver Burke (25) has had a longer winless run from the start of a Premier League career, and it is a streak that the striker will be desperate to end sooner rather than later.

Tottenham – Dejan Kulusevski

Dejan Kulusevski could make his 100th Premier League appearance in this match, with his first also coming against Southampton back in February 2022.

He has 21 assists in the league, with only Son Heung-min providing more for Spurs since his debut (24).

This man pic.twitter.com/0kktC9Y1Ns

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 12, 2024

MATCH PREDICTION: TOTTENHAM WIN

Tottenham are unbeaten in their last 13 Premier League games against sides starting the day bottom of the table (W10 D3), since a 1-0 loss at West Bromwich Albion in May 2018. Spurs have scored 42 goals in this run, netting at least three times in each of the last eight.

In fact, Spurs have only failed to score in one of their last 22 Premier League meetings with Southampton, a 1-0 away loss in January 2020.

However, Postecoglou’s side have lost 14 of their 33 Premier League games so far in 2024 (W14 D5), just one fewer than they did in 42 games in 2023. They last lost 15+ league games in consecutive calendar years in 2002 (15), 2003 (20) and 2004 (15).

Southampton, meanwhile, have won just one of their last 28 Premier League games (D6 L21), with their 1-0 win over Everton in November their only clean sheet in their last 27 in the competition.

The Saints have also lost just one of their last six home league games against Spurs (W2 D3), going down 5-2 in September 2020.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Southampton – 25.3%

Draw – 22.5%

Tottenham – 52.3%