Martin: We have to get over this week
Russell Martin looked back on the end to a frustrating week for his Southampton side, losing 1-0 to Stoke City at St Mary's Stadium in the final home game of the regular season.
The only goal of the game came 9 minutes shy of the break, Tyrese Campbell with his first Championship goal since December.
Despite some strong moments in the second half from hosts, Saints fell to a third consecutive defeat in what's been a disappointing seven days for Martin and his side.
"I’m disappointed it’s ended at home in this way," said the manager. "I know we have another game in the play-offs. Frustrating for everyone really; the players, the supporters, [Steve] Baynes the doc who will be leaving us after today after 14 years of service.
"I asked the players to finish it off very well for him and I feel we haven’t been able to do that. I thought the supporters deserved more today, the players deserved more because of how good they’ve been this season.
"The last week’s been really tough, I know I’m not talking about today’s performance yet but it’s been a really tough week. It’s also at the end of a relentless schedule, 11 games in 32 days, or whatever it is, is not easy. We made changes today to try and inject some energy and freshness and probably disrupted the rhythm of the team a little bit.
"Stoke were good, more aggressive than us in the first half and that’s what’s cost us. We were a goal behind and we have some big chances, they have a few big chances, too many. But in transition when you try and chase being a goal behind you leave yourself open sometimes.
"We have to get over this week. It’s really disappointing because it will change how people feel about the season as a whole, I think, the feeling we have at the moment, because there’s been some really brilliant, brilliant moments.
"I wanted to finish off with the best moment we can possibly have. The end goal is still there, our job now is to pick everyone up and bounce back from this week. We have a game to prepare for before the two most important games of our season, so all the focus will be on that."
