Armstrong at the double for Russell
RUSSELL MARTIN rammed the Cardiff fans’ taunts down their throats after Adam Armstrong fired Southampton to an 11th game without defeat.
The former Swansea manager was the subject of vile abuse and chants throughout the match from the Bluebirds supporters.
But after Armstrong took his season’s tally to 12 with two goals in the first 15 minutes, Martin held up four fingers to the Cardiff following – signifying a “double-double” over them when Swansea boss.
Martin said: “I had my time at the end – they had theirs during the whole match. I’m sure there will be people who disagree, but I choose to feel everything.
“I choose to enjoy that, and if you want to hammer me for 90 minutes, then I’m allowed maybe 10 seconds at the end.”
But the manager was delighted with his own team, who have taken 27 points from the last 33.
He added: “There are two teams enjoying almost the best starts in Championship history – and Leeds have been on a great run too.
“We have to chase and haven’t got much room for error. You never get perfect, there is no such thing – and we wanted more goals.
“But we are getting closer to where we want to be and are difficult to play against.”
After just 10 minutes Armstrong curled home a wonderful shot.
Then the captain was in the right place as Stuart Armstrong’s cross deflected up and the striker nodded in his second.
Cardiff boss Erol Bulut said: “It all went wrong in the first 15 minutes. After we woke up, the last 70 minutes was good – but too late against a good team.”
SOUTHAMPTON: Bazunu 7; Walkerpeters 6, Harwood-bellis 7, Bednarek 7, Manning 6; Downes 7, Charles 7, S Armstrong 7 (Aribo (63) 6); Alcaraz 7 (Fraser (63) 6), A Armstrong 9; Adams 6 (Mara (81) 6) CARDIFF: Runarsson 5; Ng 5, Mcguinness 5, Goutas 5, Collins 5; Siopis 6 (Ralls (75) 6), Wintle 6; Bowler 6 (Tanner (63) 6), Robinson 5 (R Colwill (54) 6), Meite 6 (Ugbo (63) 6); Grant 6 (Etete (75) 6) STAR MAN: Adam Armstrong – He’s spearheading Southampton’s bid to bounce back to the Premier League. REF: James Bell 7