Southampton fans compelled to applaud despite clear defensive struggle

Fans had seen shambolic marking inside the first 10 minutes, an opposition wonder goal, another example of set-piece frailty and late, total self-destruction inside the box.

Yet, a vast majority still left the ground with a smile - Saints had conceded four goals at home and still, it was probably opposition Norwich City who had escaped with a point.

Adam Armstrong’s second penalty of the day – Southampton’s third equaliser – came seven minutes into the eight-added-on to the regulation 90.

When referee Darren England – who remarkably also officiated a 4-4 draw last time out in league action at St Mary’s, during Liverpool’s visit on the final day of the Premier League season – put his whistle in his mouth, the reaction was not immediate.

Pockets of supporters began with applause and were soon bolstered by the clacking sound of seats abandoned as more and more fans stood up to join the ovation.

There were minor altercations in the Northam stand with some individuals exercising their right to boo the participants on the pitch.

When confronted by fellow supporters, their justification was the defensive horror show that they had seen – and they are not wrong in that regard.

Norwich City’s biggest strength was pace and power on transition and Southampton did little to nullify it before the second-half introduction of youngster Shea Charles.

“I think there were too many moments that we wouldn’t have wanted. I’m angry and annoyed at conceding four goals,” Martin, who has been battling illness this week, admitted. 

“There’s a lot to learn from today and to improve on. We paid for some nervousness earlier in the game.

“It was the first time back here for everyone and our first time here in the league after last year’s disappointment.

“To have the character to come back from that is probably the fair result for both teams,” he concluded.

On only three other occasions since Ronald Koeman’s departure have Saints fans seen their team score four goals in a league contest at St Mary’s.

In terms of justifying the ticket price, of which there were 29,000 paying Saints supporters, Martin’s side promises to do exactly that.

Despite the two dropped points, his fundamentals remained on show. Saints dominated expected goals (3.76 to 2.06) and fired 31 shots towards Angus Gunn’s goal.

They kept 70 per cent of the ball – 10 per cent less than during the win at Sheffield Wednesday – and looked dangerous from almost all of their 12 corners.

Norwich had only three significant periods of momentum in the tie – in the first 10 minutes, just before half-time and midway through the second half.

Armstrong was an unlikely hero. The audible murmurs and nervous laughs amongst supporters only increased for his second penalty but credit to him for holding his nerve.

Entertainment does not get you promoted, though, and Martin will need to deliver significant improvement defensively. He even joked after the match that, if the results do not come, he will not last in the job.

Norwich manager David Wagner discussed the lack of height in the Saints team with his players as a means to produce a threat – and also to set the plan to let Saints play out wide, feeling limited concern from crossing scenarios, but close down when they tried to come through the middle.

The afternoon was meant to be a crowning moment for new captain Jack Stephens, with his predecessor James Ward-Prowse in the building to say his goodbyes.

Speaking after the match, goalscorer Armstrong told the Daily Echo: “We wish Prowsey the very best, we spoke to him and showed our respect to him and his decision.

"Hopefully, he plays in the Premier League next year. He’s been an incredible servant for this club with the things that he’s done, coming through the academy for all those years. I wish him the very best.”

The old king is dead, long live the king. Stephens took pride in being first to lead his players to supporters to give back applause at full-time.

It was probably not the on-pitch coronation Stephens wanted, but for a stunning block to bail out Kyle Walker-Peters with the scores level at 2-2, conceding four at home.

“Stepho has been here since he was young as well and everyone looks up to him. He’s a good voice in the changing room and a top, top lad,” Armstrong added.

Whether Saints will add any more defensive reinforcements remains to be seen but with only Lyanco and James Bree on the bench, in-game changes were not an option.

The addition of Flynn Downes, still to be finalised at the start of next week, will add protection to the back four – and a possible departure of Armel Bella-Kotchap, likely to be worth more than the £18million reported, will see Saints sign a centre-back.

The jury is still out on young, confident goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu – at one point during the game, he had conceded all four shots on target he had faced this season.

However, the Republic of Ireland international could probably have done nothing about any of them and made a big stop to keep Saints in it late in the game.

There are issues to be ironed out and plenty more transfer business to be done but for six weeks of work – the same time between Nathan Jones’s appointment and the Boxing Day defeat to Brighton – what Saints are producing is piquing interest.