Southampton manager Russell Martin fears three consecutive defeats will cause negativity to seep into supporters ahead of the play-offs as his side lost 1-0 to Stoke.
Saints have been beaten by Cardiff, Leicester and Stoke in eight days, having hoped to mount an automatic promotion charge, and must now rely on the Championship play-offs.
Tyrese Campbell netted the only goal for the Potters at St Mary’s in the 36th minute, driving into the box and finishing through the legs of Alex McCarthy.
Speaking after the match, Martin said: “It’s been a disappointing week. I really hoped we could bounce back after the last two defeats but we haven’t been able to do it.
“My fear is the last week will really change how people feel about the season. If we end up on the points we ended up on and won three games this week, I think it’s a very different feeling.
“The players have done some amazing stuff, the fans have been amazing and then we end at home on that today and it’s disappointing.
“But it’s been a relentless schedule. I think everyone’s really tired, it’s not an excuse for today.
“I think 11 games in 33 days, whatever it’s been, it’s been really tough. I’m knackered. I keep getting texts from my mum asking if I’m alright.
“She sees my interviews and I think they’ve got more and more tired as it’s gone on but my energy has to go on all the players and all the staff.
“We have a week before the next game, it’s a bit of recovery time but also time to work on the training pitch which will be invaluable for us.”
Saints were denied a penalty at 0-0 when Sekou Mara was wiped out by goalkeeper Daniel Iversen.
The Frenchman’s header was cleared off the line by Luke McNally in the process, before a spot-kick shout for both teams in the second half.
Martin insisted: “I think the referee has got every penalty decision wrong. They should have one and we should have two.
“The fourth official said it was a coming-together but it’s not – Sekou gets clattered.
“But then they should have a penalty and so should we again with Sam Edozie. So two-one us. But we shouldn’t have to rely on that anyway.”
The result means Stoke have lost just once in their last seven and secured their status in the Championship for another season.
Steven Schumacher, who left Plymouth to take over at Stoke in December, praised the performance of his players.
Schumacher said: “It means everything. I said in the press earlier this week that I felt we needed a result.
“I didn’t agree with what some people were suggesting, that it was over and we were safe and all that.
“The number of calls I’ve had this week and people have said, ‘Well done, you’re over the line’. I’m like, ‘No we’re not, we’re definitely going to need a result from the next two games’.
“Thankfully we’ve come in here today and put a performance in that’s warranted a result.
“I thought the lads were excellent and it was a brilliant win against a really top team. I am delighted with it.”
Let's start our 7M Daily Laugh today. Watching Arsenal fans get tricked into thinking Man City might actually drop points on the final day Final day results of EPL 2023/2024 Premier League has always been a Farmers league Hard Decision Tag Manchester United Fans 2008 Man United > 2024 Man City Please stay tuned on 7M Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, B...
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou is planning his moves for the transfer window.The North London club are expected to be active this summer to add new players to their squad.Spurs have done a good job qualifying for Europe this season but it could have been a lot better if they had ended up in the top four of the Premier League.Transfer insider Paul O'Keefe has reported that the Premier League cl...
Pep Guardiola admitted it felt "insane" to lead Manchester City to a historic four titles in a row.City beat West Ham 3-1 at the Etihad to become the first team in 136 years of English football to achieve the feat. Guardiola, who celebrated with his stars on the pitch after lifting the trophy, has now won the Premier League six times in the last seven seasons.The Spaniard never dreamt of such dome...
Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly set for talks over his future at Chelsea, but it seems there are some figures at the club who were never convinced by him in the first place, which could potentially pave the way for Ruben Amorim to replace him.That's according to a report from Team Talk, who state that Amorim would be ready to talk to Chelsea should they decide to part ways with Pochettino after ...
WHAT HAPPENED?Shaw has struggled with injuries for much of the season which have limited him to just 15 appearances in all competitions at club level. The latest muscle injury saw him miss the Red Devils' run in to the end of the Premier League campaign and coach Erik ten Hag has said he only has a very small chance of being available for the FA Cup final on Saturday.THE BIGGER PICTUREDespite Shaw...
Mohamed Salah has given his strongest indication yet about his future at Liverpool by saying he will "fight like hell" to win trophies for the club next season.The Egypt international, 31, enters the final year of his Liverpool contract next month and no deal has yet been reached between the club and Salah to prolong his stay at Anfield.Liverpool rejected a £150 million offer from Saudi Arabi...
Chelsea could be set to pull off a Manchester United hijack to sign a centre half this summer.The Blues are eager to bring in Brazil and Juventus defender Gelson Bremer to replace countryman Thiago Silva.The veteran has departed Stamford Bridge and is heading back to his homeland for one more season in football.Per TuttoJuve, Chelsea have identified Juve man Bremer as the ideal replacement.However...
Manchester United will be hoping to put what has been their worst-ever Premier League campaign behind them at the weekend, when they take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final. But even a win over their local rivals at Wembley would only offer temporary respite from the Red Devils' eighth-place Premier League finish that came with a negative goal difference. The issue of Erik ten Hag's future in ...
Liverpool have announced Arne Slot will be their new manager.Slot, 45, will take over in the hot seat on Merseyside after Jurgen Klopp announced he was stepping down in January. Klopp was reduced to tears as he waved goodbye to Anfield for one final time over the weekend - after a 2-0 win against Wolves.And the 56-year-old Premier League and Champions League winner even paved the way for his succe...
Bologna determined to keep Man Utd target Motta at the clubSerie A side Bologna are determined to retain the services of their manager Thiago Motta beyond the current season amid interest from Juventus and Manchester United.Speaking to DAZN, Bologna president Joey Saputo said, "We will do everything in our power to keep Thiago Motta at the club."Bayern could consider appointing Kompany as next bos...
- 1 Sterling considering leaving the club
- 2 Marcus Rashford's new £700,000 Rolls Royce Wraith revealed
- 3 Nuno Espirito Santo achieves ‘main objective’ as Forest win secures survival
- 4 Jurgen Klopp bids emotional farewell to Liverpool with last-day win over Wolves
- 5 Celtic run riot against Kilmarnock to win another Premiership title
- 6 David Beckham had the worst haircuts and dress sense
- 7 Klopp delivers emotional final dressing room message to Liverpool players
- 8 Emma Hayes ends Chelsea tenure with her ‘best title’ after latest WSL success
- 9 Lawrence Shankland reaches 30-goal landmark to earn Hearts a draw at St Mirren
- 10 Interim boss David Gray pleased Hibernian were able to give duo fitting send-off