Martin: Game was like basketball!
RUSSELL Martin joked about hating the basketball nature of his Southampton side’s breathless victory over Huddersfield.
Saints were 2-0 and 3-2 down and looking at their 24-game unbeaten run ending, before a crazy second half. Although they kept their club record run going to a quarter of a century, master of perfection Martin was less enthralled by the madness.
He said: “I enjoyed the feeling at the end. That isn’t my kind of game. It was like basketball at one point, it was carnage.
“I love basketball, but not on a big pitch. My immediate feeling is immense pride and gratitude towards the players and the supporters for the energy they showed.
“To do what they are doing is incredible. Nobody should ever take that for granted. It takes work, courage and intensity.”
A variety of early half chances came and went, but Flynn Downes’ exit in the 32nd minute while clutching his groin allowed the Terriers to pounce, as Saints re-jiggled their midoff field. Jack Rudoni pulled back from the left to Sorba Thomas who bounced his finish over Ryan Manning’s leg.
Nine minutes later and David Kasumu doubled the visitors’ lead in similar style. This time Thomas turned provider with a run and cross from the right before the wing-back crashed into the roof of the net.
The performance, tied with an unhappiness towards referee David Webb, saw loud boos accompany the half-time whistle.
But four minutes after the re-start, Joe Rothwell smashed the ball into the postage stamp with impressive accuracy after Lee Nicholls had punched Stuart
Armstrong’s corner to the edge of the penalty box.
It was Rothwell’s first goal since arriving on loan from Bournemouth last month. He only had to wait 65 seconds for his second.
This time his fellow substitute, David Brooks found his run into the box with a clever reverse pass before Rothwell finished with aplomb over Nicholls.
The Saints fans were ready to take the roof off when Adam Armstrong was clean through, but he elected to attempt a chip to a grateful Nicholls.
The Terriers found a second wind and they capitalised when Alex Matos stepped onto his right foot and shot – it deflected up Will Smallbone and over the despairing Bazunu.
But Saints continued their club record unbeaten run with two goals in four minutes. Rothwell turned provider when his low ball was turned into his own net by Tom Lees.
Sekou Mara put the hosts ahead for the first time after Brooks had cut back to him, before Samuel Edozie capped things off in stoppage time after Mara had teed him up.
While relieved that his side pulled off the comeback, Martin was full of praise for their opponents. “Big credit to Huddersfield,” he said. “They were great. They came here with complete freedom.”