Fraser has commended Martin for his halftime actions that resulted in the three points. Fraser was present to score another late winner for the Saints.
The Saints have demonstrated their resilience and mental strength in their recent away matches. In each of their last three away trips, they have managed to score in second-half additional time. Notably, Fraser himself scored the winning goal against Hull City two weeks ago. This trend indicates that the team possesses a strong mentality and determination, allowing them to perform well and secure crucial goals late in matches.
Ryan Fraser reveals what Russell Martin said to spur Southampton to win v Millwall
After their victory on Saturday, Russell Martin’s team in the Championship has now gone seven games unbeaten, showing a significant improvement in consistency compared to their earlier struggles this season. Fraser, who joined the team in the summer, credited Martin’s halftime team talk as a pivotal factor in their recent success.
Fraser, the loanee from Newcastle United, stated in an interview with Hampshire Live, “I think the game in the first half was tough, they made it really difficult for us. It was really narrow, and we obviously like to play through the thirds and in the middle a little bit more. But this is a testament to how skilled Russell Martin is as a manager. He got the boys in at half-time and provided us with a solution to overcome those challenges. The transformation from that halftime team talk, resulting in our dominance in the second half, was quite remarkable.
“I believe he simply provided us with a small structural adjustment, and that’s what transpired and allowed us to ultimately achieve our goal.”
Fraser serves as an excellent case study on the effectiveness of Russell Martin’s management.
Ryan Fraser’s form for Southampton this season
Earlier in the season, Fraser held a place in the starting lineup for Southampton but was part of the team that suffered defeats to Leicester, Ipswich, and Middlesbrough. Subsequently, the Scotland international has primarily been used as a second-half substitute.
Russell Martin has been reaping the rewards of Fraser’s impact from the bench. In a short six-minute appearance in the match against Hull on October 21, the winger scored an injury-time winner. Similarly, in the recent game at the Den, he came off the bench and secured a 1-0 victory for the Saints with a goal in the 93rd minute.
While these two goal contributions represent the extent of Fraser’s scoring in his 12 appearances so far, they have been incredibly important in earning an additional four points for the team.
The Saints are currently riding a wave of momentum, and they will aim to continue their upward trajectory. However, they face a challenging test next weekend when West Brom visits St Mary’s.
West Brom currently holds the fifth position in the Championship table, just one point and one place behind Southampton. Russell Martin’s team has had a mixed record in crucial matches this season. They secured victories against fellow top-six side Leeds and playoff contenders Hull, but they suffered defeats against the current top two teams in successive games back in September.
If Martin’s game management against West Brom is as successful as it was against Millwall, it could pose a tough afternoon for Carlos Corberan’s team and their supporters.
The strong character instilled by Russell Martin will be crucial for Southampton to maintain their promotion push. The team has a lot of potential for an immediate return to the Premier League, and this could be a key factor in their campaign.
In the middle of the park, Flynn Downes is a metronome, while Adam Armstrong, the forward, is a goal machine.
The prospect of them scoring goals will be enhanced when summer acquisition Ross Stewart gets well.
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