MANAGER Russell Martin insists he is “really pleased” with his Saints squad’s togetherness despite “so much noise” after their 4-4 draw with Norwich City.
Saints fought from behind three times, including netting a 97th-minute penalty courtesy of Adam Armstrong, to save a point in front of home support at St Mary’s.
Jan Bednarek first equalised inside 17 minutes before Armstrong scored his first of two spot-kicks to send Saints ahead – but they were 3-3 behind by half-time.
Che Adams then equalised from the bench and Armstrong’s last-minute leveller came conceding what looked a certain winner in the 84th minute.
The result followed a week in which captain James Ward-Prowse sealed his move to West Ham United, while Romeo Lavia was left out of the squad amid an ever-changing transfer saga.
Speaking after the match, Martin told the Daily Echo: “The togetherness in the group, I am really pleased with.
“Six weeks together and so much noise, the disappointment of last season, loads of guys coming back from loan, loads of guys really desperate to prove themselves and loads of guys really desperate to leave for one reason or the other.
“The togetherness they have got already will improve in three weeks’ time when the window closes and we will have people in who can help us with that side as well.
Martin added: “We’re really excited about where we are six weeks in. We have gone from one end of the spectrum to the other really in terms of what the club is focusing on.
“Tactically, player recruitment and player profiling it is the opposite end – so we have to be patient, and it’s quite similar to Burnley really in terms of how they changed the style.
“We’re really excited because we’ve seen so much willingness, we’ve dominated the ball in both games were played, been really threatening but just given too much away this weekend.
“The balance will be found for sure but we can’t compromise early, we need to go all in and say ‘This is the vision, this is where we need to be’. Then you can understand what you need to flex with.
“Starting with trying to be pragmatic and then building on it rarely works. I’ve been there as a player and it doesn’t work.”
Martin also confirmed that he expects Lavia’s transfer situation is expected to come to a close soon with Liverpool and Chelsea both in for the Belgian international.
“Romeo, who is 19 and has been great while his situation has rumbled on for a long time. That needs to draw to a conclusion quickly for him, for us and for everyone really,” Martin explained.
“It’s eeking slowly towards a conclusion and I think we have been preparing for life without him for the six weeks we’ve been here so it’s not a massive drama.”
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