Russell Martin Reaction On Southampton’s fightback against Huddersfield

Sorba Thomas and David Kasumu, who played for Martin at MK Dons, combined in the first half to give the Terriers a two-goal buffer at the break.

Substitute Joe Rothwell fired home a wicked volley and then added a second 65 seconds later to draw Saints level before Alex Matos restored the away side’s lead.

An own goal from Tom Lees’ preceded goals from Sekou Mara and Sam Edozie as Southampton recorded an incredible comeback win.

“My immediate feeling is immense pride and gratitude towards the players and the supporters for the energy they showed,” Martin told the Daily Echo, fresh off the back of a chaotic second half.

“The conversation we had at half-time was about how it is never easy to play the way we want to play.

“To do what they are doing is incredible. Nobody should ever take that for granted. It takes immense work, courage and intensity. We lacked all of that in the first half.

“Then, to bring it back to 2-2, what a response. Then we got caught up in that emotion. To go 3-2 down and deal with that setback was incredible.”

He continued: “The game became a basketball game at one point. I like basketball, but not on a big pitch. That is frustrating.

“I’m frustrated at the first half. I’m frustrated that we have conceded as many goals today as we have in our last 10 home games.

“But big credit to Huddersfield, I thought they were great. They came here with complete freedom. They deserved to be leading at half time, but we deserved to win it by the end of the game.

“We will take a lot from that second half, but we will also learn a lot from the first half. The gaps were too big and we lacked courage because of what Huddersfield were doing to us.

“We got spooked for the first time in a long time. To overcome that in the way that we did was immense. I am so proud of them.”