Joe Rothwell has launched a robust defence of boss Russell Martin’s style of play after Southampton lost ground to Leeds United in the scrap for automatic promotion. The Saints, who face the Whites on the final day of the season, look destined for the Championship play-offs after picking up just one point from their Easter programme.
No team in the second tier has kept possession (66.1 per cent) more than Southampton this term. But Martin has come in for some criticism following recent fixtures with Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town.
Saints’ dip in form has seen them fall 12 points behind second-placed United, albeit they do have two games in hand on their top-two rivals. Rothwell, on loan from Bournemouth until the end of the season, said: “It’s not just pointless possession; there’s always a reason behind a pass and ultimately you want to score a goal at the end of the day.
“The amount of goals we’ve probably scored that started with Gavin Bazunu, finishing in a goal, just proves that it works.”
The midfielder has not started any of the last five outings, playing just eight minutes after scoring a second brace of the season as substitute to beat Sunderland 4-2 at St Mary’s. “You’re not going to play every game, but substitutes see a little bit more of the games you don’t play from the sidelines,” he said.
