Southampton midfielder Armstrong defends Selles on two key questions

The Scottish international defended manager Ruben Selles, though, even refusing to answer a question on instances of on-pitch frustration between players and the manager.

Selles was an animated figure on the touchline during Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United and his nervous energy transcended onto the pitch.

There were a number of visible instances where players would turn to listen to the Spaniard’s screeched instructions before gesturing as if to say ‘we know’ or even ‘calm down’.

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However, when Armstrong – who scored the opener from Kamaldeen Sulemana’s assist for his second Premier League goal of the campaign – was asked about them, he could not find words.

“I don’t think it’s fair to say that,” he responded, after pondering quietly for a few moments. “It’s tough.

“A few years ago that was a statistic that we did very well in the first 45 to 60 minutes but in that last third we couldn’t quite hang onto it and gave points away so there’s definitely a case of that today.”

“It’s a tough job for Ruben to come into, it’s been an unusual season with a lot of change in the club,” Armstrong added.

“But bringing it back to the weekend, the first 45 minutes were very good and we tried to hang on but Newcastle are a quality side chasing Champions League football and we didn’t quite have enough at a very important time of the season.”

Armstrong was one of a trio of players to come off for substitutes after around 70 minutes with Saints still level at 1-1 in the match.

The Scot, Kamaldeen and Lyanco were replaced by Adam Armstrong, Moi Elyounoussi and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

No Armstrong touches from open play, one Maitland-Niles error leading to a goal and 10 minutes later and Saints found themselves two goals down and heading for a fourth defeat against the Magpies this season.

Armstrong defends the changes, though, saying: “The team needed fresh energy of course and that dynamism to get forward once we do get possession.

“We had a couple of instances but not enough. Throughout the game, the team, including myself, could have been better with the ball and controlled it more. If you have possession, they can’t score.”

There is typically no shame in a defeat to Newcastle, who have gone from relegation candidates to nine points clear in the top four in two seasons under manager Eddie Howe.

However, Saints have not afforded themselves the luxury of only beating the teams around them – now there are only four games left of the Premier League season and they sit six points adrift.

“It’s a very difficult result, I thought we were very good in the first half but they have a lot of quality and had a few chances,” Armstrong reflected, on the game itself.

“When you’ve got something to hold onto you get deeper and the pressure builds. We need to have more resolve in those situations, a tough result to take and a tough situation.

“You need to find solutions and we didn’t, the more they have possession in your half the pressure naturally builds. It’s a very tough afternoon.”