Martin gave out Southampton chances at Gillingham - for some, the last

It frees up the midweek slot later this month, with second-round ties to be played in less than two weeks, in what is already a jam-packed slog of a campaign.

Unless Gillingham draw Pompey, who beat Dave Horseman’s Forest Green Rovers, supporters won’t care - they have already got enough to fork out on.

Director of football, Jason Wilcox was in attendance at Priestfield Stadium. A win would have birthed another opportunity for the young and some fringe players to get further minutes – but that is probably the only major drawback.

Manager Russell Martin was bitterly disappointed and angry at what he saw in Kent but remained composed as he rather brutally dissected the performance. 

The boss accepted a certain degree of responsibility himself - making 11 changes was always likely to cause disruption and perhaps he was too trusting, in his own assertion, of certain professionals.

However, one of the things he liked about his Swansea team by the end of his two-year tenure there and referred to on his first meeting with the Daily Echo in June was that he could swap any players in and out and principles would remain.

Besides, the 11 that he fielded on Tuesday evening should have been more than strong enough to fight its way past League Two Gillingham, with no disrespect to what was a well-drilled side under Neil Harris.

The sum of Premier League appearances amongst the starters was 641. A few of them think they have a Premier League market - a few of them may be wrong. 

Martin told his players, after the match, before heading back out of the dressing room and emerging for media duties in record time, that he is willing to accept mistakes and defeats when they are done his way - deviating from the work on the training pitch as the first feeling of panic sets in is not accepted.

He pointed to the possibility that some may have not been in the head space to respond to the adversity with the idea that most of their Saints journey is behind them. It is now Martin’s ideal view that, for some of them at least, they are right about that.

“There were probably a few too many on the pitch that think they’re going to leave or expect to leave and it probably means they weren’t in the right place to put on their best performance - that’s my fault, I should have taken that into account more,” Martin said. 

Who exactly was Martin referring to? Sekou Mara was asked to do something different with his number 10 role but left Martin furious at his lack of industry and desire before he was hooked at half-time.

Lyanco’s bravery on the ball grew throughout the match but he showed he, right now, cannot do what he is needed to.

Martin was clearly not impressed by Romain Perraud’s performance but given his inclusion as a centre-back for the first time, has to accept responsibility in part for that.

Moussa Djenepo was one of the only players to regularly find Che Adams inside the area in the first half but his performance and concentration waned – Martin kept him on for 90 minutes, though.

James Bree, who came out to speak to the Daily Echo and accepted he has done his Saints chances little good - while telling BBC Radio Solent that he would be open to playing elsewhere if he does not get games here – was not impressive.

Martin spoke passionately in defence of Alex McCarthy after the friendly versus AFC Bournemouth in July and although he probably couldn’t have done much about the goals, he made one save and conceded three again. There are question marks over his distribution, too.

The only players that Martin listed by name as having been satisfied with or having seen redeeming qualities in were Shea Charles, Stuart Armstrong, Adams and the youngsters Jayden Meghoma and Sam Amo-Ameyaw - as well as substitutes Joe Aribo and Charly Alcaraz. 

The result comes in a week in which the club could lose both Romeo Lavia to the top six and long-term captain James Ward-Prowse to West Ham United, depriving Martin of two more he believes can help from the squad.

Those moves, as well as the money already in the coffers from Tino Livramento’s confirmed transfer to Newcastle United, put Martin and Wilcox in a position to pull the trigger on targets. They have already identified a few in each desired position.  

However, on sheer bodies alone, it is still essential for the club to rid themselves of the undesirables - unless they want them stinking up the place as they rot in the reserves. 

Martin has learned a lot from Gillingham - it was not even meant to be a last-chance saloon but the lack of character and spirit shown by some proved it to be so.