Saints take on the high flying Tractor Boys in a game that they need to win to avoid being cast adrift from the top three, but can they shore up the defence after conceding 9 goals in the last two games.

Something has to change for Southampton on Tuesday evening at St Mary's or they are doomed to yet another defeat and a potential heavy one at that.

But what can Russell Martin do to stop the rot, can he find a leader in the side or at least someone who can organise a back four and hold the line without those around him charging forward as if they are attacking the Russian guns in the Valley of Death.

The good news is that he will have the recently reprieved Kamaldeed Sulemana available and potentially Jan Bednarek back from injury in his matchday squad.

But having a big squad full of quality is no good if it isn't organised and this is where Russell Martin is about to have to pass his first biggest teat since he arrived at St Mary's.

Can he arrest the slide and put out a side that will not leak soft goals all over the place.

Step one will be to not concede in the first minute of the game as they did in the last two games and then they have to build the confidence up, the trouble is Russell Martin's side only have one pace and that is 100 miles an hour piling forward.

They have to learn to vary the tempo, that means not allowing ourself to get caught napping early doors, we should get the ball and keep it and dictate the pace of the game rather than be like a bull at a gate,

In the games against Leicester & Sunderland for most of the game we kept the ball and held our shape, but both of these sides had caught us early and then bided their time waiting for us to over commit in attack leaving us ripe to be counter attacked.

I have said more than once that I don't believe Russell Martin sends his team out with the instructions ringing in their ears to "charge forward and don't leave anyone at the back and whilst you are at it don't forget to leave people unmarked at set pieces."

But now Martin has to prove that indeed that these are not his instructions and more to the point he is not going to tolerate his team playing like this anymore.

Ipswich come with confidence and that might be their undoing, I am sure that they too might be looking to catch us from the off, but we have to keep it tight and be patient, earn the right to play and show the crowd we have regained our discipline from the early fixtures.

The team need to win the crowd back and show they are in the mood to win a game, conceding another early goal will make things doubly hard with the crowd on the teams back.

This season has a long way to go yet and will not be decided either way by this match, however by the end of it we do not want to be cast adrift from the top positions, it is safety first in this game and having won back the crowd and earned the right to play, we can start to show we are still going to have a big say at the top of the League.

Photo: Action Images

davidargyll added 08:53 - Sep 19 Darkest before the dawn etc and RM “ is not going to tolerate his team playing like this anymore”. But what can he seriously do about it? Send them to Coventry if they don’t do what he says? We will be meat and drink to Ipswich tonight, and even if we hold them off for a few minutes even an hour, I think everyone will be amazed if we keep a clean sheet let alone win. Impossible and miracles come to mind…

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Block8 added 09:07 - Sep 19 it only needs a few tweaks RM has said. May I suggest the first being let them kick off, that may avoid repeating the 21 seconds goal on Friday. Second give the players the freedom to pump a ball forward if there is no other pass on, that may also avoid another 21 second goal. Third tweak, tell the players to have a look around them before charging off upfield & if it leaves us exposed either call someone to cover or don't go. It is quite simple teams are far less likely to throw goals away if they remain disciplined and retain some sort of shape. There is no massive issue with the fans if you wish to play flowing, passing football just remove the kamikaze element!

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SanMarco added 09:39 - Sep 19 If I am reading this correctly the players are being sent out with clear instructions to do one thing but instead they are doing something else.. Makes RM look like an incompetent supply teacher rather than an authoritative leader. With all the turmoil there has been it probably will take time and that was why many of us wanted a more experienced and suitable manager. For now the task is crystal clear: A scoreline saying Ipswich 0 at the fulltime whistle. I am not at all confident of that but we have to hope.

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stmichael added 09:42 - Sep 19 You don’t really need leaders to think wait a minute all Of our players are attacking Id better stay back and mark this bloke. Even at the level we played if the opposition kept one up for corners you’d keep two back to cover. Basic stuff for pub teams let alone professionals..
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Ifonly added 09:56 - Sep 19 So we conceded within 21 seconds because the players were ignoring all the coaching they'd been given and charged up-field? Nonsense.
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SaintPaulVW added 10:32 - Sep 19 This is probably the wrong time to be facing a well drilled, cohesive team like Ipswich but that's life. Regardless of the system or result, I just hope all our players put a shift in, cut out the concentration lapses and play for each other. COYR
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Centurion added 12:48 - Sep 19 We simply need to win or else the wheels will be off. Keep it simple.
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WestSussexSaint added 13:12 - Sep 19 I think tonight is more about performance than the end result. Can we get back to dominating the ball and control the game (like we saw against Sheffield Wed)? Can we put/minimise the mistakes? Can each player show desire and effort both going forward and defensively? Can the manager pick the right players in each position (put Charles as CDM rather than CB)? If the above can be answered positively then while it doesn’t guarantee a win it should give a performance that sets us on the right path for the rest of the season. A draw tonight is not a disaster especially if it’s 0-0!

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JoeEgg added 14:23 - Sep 19 Saints 1 Ipswich 3 But only if we keep it tight at the back; dont go two down inside 10 minutes; keep the occasional defender looking out for fast breaks; and above all keep our discipline!
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pintsizedsaint added 17:40 - Sep 19 Relax chaps! 2-0 Saints and a first clean sheet in what will be a tight game. Goal in either half.
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