x

Roberto Wouldn't Swap

Roberto Wouldn't Swap With Wise

Tough Lessons To Learn

Roberto Martinez insists that he would not swap squads with Dennis Wise despite the latter amassing seven straight wins at the start of the League One season.

Martinez watched yesterday as his team became the latest to succumb to the form of Leeds who have wiped out the minus 15 point deduction they had at the start of the season and now moved themselves out of the relegation places with a great run of form against the odds.

Second half goals from Beckford and Prutton were enough to give Leeds the win that they totally deserved and it could easily have been more. Speaking after the game, Martinez said "We will come out of this stronger

"If I am being a bit harsh I would say we didn't play as well as we could have.

"We need to come to places like this and still be ourselves so perhaps we need to develop a winning mentality like Leeds have shown.

"They have huge momentum and the 15-point deduction has helped them because they don't have to be pretty, just effective and win games. But I wouldn't swap squads with them. We will improve after this.

"They are a different team to us but I didn't think it was too difficult to cope with. We were coming back into the game and there wasn't much in it, we were cancelling each other out.

"They play percentage football and don't take too many chances but if we can keep playing as well as we can then we will be okay."

What are your thoughts? Share your views on the Message Board

150,000 visitors creating 3 million impressions a month can't be wrong.........

What to read next:

Saints Announce Ticket Pricing Information For Play Off Semi Final
The opponents won't be known until Saturday afternoon, but Southampton FC have announced their ticket pricing structure and how the tickets will be sold to give supporters plenty of time to sort their tickets out.
Time For The Spirit Of Southampton Football Club
Recent months have seen a number of events and issues divide opinion and split the supporter base but as we head towards the play offs it is time for everyone at Saints to kick in the same direction.
Should Russell Martin Put Out Another Reserve Side For Leeds United Trip
Against Stoke City Russell martin selected a side that was very much a second string line up, with the play offs looming should the manager repeat this for the trip to take on Leeds on Saturday.
A Rough Guide To Leeds United
A big big game for just Leeds now, although by Saturday the odds on them going up automatically might have changed slightly so here is all the info for those travelling Saints fans who are still going,
Southampton Should Not Fear Anyone In The Play Offs.
The hope of getting back into the Premier League automatically has long gone, but the season is not yet over and we now have a good chance of getting to Wembley and going up through the play offs, here we look at who we could meet.
Southampton V Stoke City The Verdict
This should have been a celebratory day for Saints fans, there should have been a feeling of positivity, but the truth is that the fight has been knocked out of the supporter base and we go into the play offs with confidence both on and off the pitch at a low ebb.
Southampton 0 - 1 Stoke City - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Saints V Stoke City A Look Back In Pictures 2
In the second part of our pictorial look back at some of our games against Stoke City from the past, here we look back at more recent games, so most of you would have been at them.
Saints V Stoke City A Look Back In Pictures
We have looked through our photo archives for a look back as some games against Stoke City over the years, what are your memories of these games ?
Southampton V Stoke City The Preview
Saints go into the last two games of the season with their hopes of automatic promotion ended, even the hope of finishing 3rd is only a point away from being ended, but they do have something to play for and that is getting back the togetherness, character & fight Russell Martin has recently be moaned.