Keep It Simple, Play Your Best Players, Change Little ! Is The Message To Southampton

A week ago Saints travelled to Leeds with their supporters lamenting how bad we had been in the previous three games, now after a comprehensive win at Elland Road the tide has turned, the message is simple, More of the same !

The three straight defeats in April occurred for different reasons, but all had one underlying issue that contributed to the losses and the key word was "Tinkering"

Whether it was in the starting line up or in making substitutions, there were too many changes, the back line was constantly changed and the forward line as well, when we had three wingers on the pitch at Cardiff, the writing was clearly on the wall.

But at Leeds something changed. we put out arguably our best side, we played in a formation that the players knew how to play and when made, the substitutions were timely and for the right reasons, rather than just changing for change sake.

So the lesson was learned up at Elland Road and from the start of the game we looked a different side, controlled and knowing what we needed to do.

A little bit as we did when we bounced back at West Brom back in February after out first defeat in 23 games at Bristol City.

So hopefully Russell Martin has learned that lesson, there can be no excuse of having to play too many games in a short period of time, we have two games, hopefully three, to turn this season into one to remember.

We do not need to use 22 players in those games, we need to get that consistency back, a back four that is solid, a midfield that compliments both defence and attack and up front the players who have done the job over the season, Adam Armstrong, Che Adams & Ryan Frazer.

The same core dozen or so players that got us through the 22 game unbeaten run.

If things aren't going well stick with those that are tried and tested, when you are chasing goals, don't take off your best forward, the second highest in the division and put on a player that has not scored all season and hope that he finally pays off.

So the message ahead of the trip to West Bromwich Albion is as simple as the message itself.

"Keep It Simple, Play Your Best Players, Change Little !"

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