Every Word: Southampton's Martin on Bristol City, rotation and

What has the focus been this week?

We have had the same focus as every game. Whether we win, lose or draw - we try to learn as much as we possibly can.

Speaking to the players we are all in agreement that we stopped doing a lot of the stuff we did well in the first half. For a number of reasons.

It's easy to point out that Huddersfield changed a but, but that's when it's even more important that the players stick to the detail. We lacked intensity in the second half.

Saints have scored first in the last 10 games - how conscious are you that you’re sending your players out to own the turf?

It’s about maintaining that and turning our dominance into something that makes it difficult for our opponents to get back into the game.

I watched Tottenham on Sunday with a few people and we asked the question, could they maintain it? They couldn’t. It’s not just us - it’s the hardest thing when you are dominating the ball and teams are still coming after you.

It’s really different here than in our last job. There we had very little respect at the start of the game from the opposition. They arrived to go all out and disrupt our flow - we had to really earn respect.

Here we have a lot of respect currently. Some games are different, but because of the quality of player and being in the Premier League. The players who are starting games understand the context of the game at the start and they carry it out brilliantly.

When the context changes we haven’t been as fluid or intense. What comes first is always going to be courage. But to play the way we want to play takes a huge amount of intensity - it’s not easy when 10 men are chasing you like dogs.

It’s a really interesting and challenging process for us. We are enjoying it. Whenever we have had a problem the players have been so willing to take it on and be a part of that process.

Tomorrow is another challenge to learn from the performance in the second half against Huddersfield. Let’s see what we can take from it. I’m excited, it will be a really good game.

How will you deal with making changes in this busy period?

You look at the opposition and you try to pick the best solution for that game. The thing about consistency in the team on the whole, some of it was about necessity.

There will probably be some changes tomorrow night out of necessity because we are trying to manage people through a really busy period of games between now and January.

Some are out of physical requirement and some are because we are trying to manage the squad in the best way possible. We are trying to keep everyone motivated and hungry because we trust every player here.

Taking one player out and putting another player in shouldn’t weaken us in any way really. Sometimes it does, but is shouldn’t because of the quality of players we have here.

When players are in a rhythm and are playing a lot of minutes it’s a good place to be. I think in the last three-game week we used every player - I probably don’t see this one being much different.

Do you need help in January to put teams to bed or do you have the players to do that already?

It’s here. We have a lot of young players in positions where we are requiring them to be really ruthless. That’s the challenge for us, we need to help them with the mentality in and around goal.

The guys at the back are taking what is perceived to be a risk, for us not so much, with the way they play and the pressure they invite. They do that really well. I watch them with such immense pride - they will only keep getting better.

When we get to the top end of the pitch, the guys need to take their risks. There are less of those when you are further away from your goal.

It’s up to us to help them express themselves and play with freedom in and around the goal.

There is always a balance to be had. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t want to have 80 per cent of the ball and not have a shot. I want us to have intensity on the ball and a lot of shots.

We had a lot of shots, box entries etc on Saturday but only one goal to show for it at halftime. We have to find a way to be better than that. At both clubs I’ve been at it has always been the last bit to come.

When it clicks players have a real understanding of each other and the goals tend to follow. I think we are fairly well-placed in terms of goals scored, but there should be a lot more.

What do you make of Liam Manning and Bristol City?

I thought Nigel did a really good job there, I've always enjoyed spending time with him and his staff after games. I think Liam has done amazingly well. For players and coaches, timing has to align.

He had a brilliant first season at MK, but a really tough second which ended up with him getting the sack. A good opportunity arises with Oxford and you have to be ready to take that opportunity and learn from your other jobs.

I’m really pleased there is another young British manager getting the opportunity that they deserve.

I don’t know him very well, he obviously followed us into the job at MK Dons and nearly took them up, now he has an opportunity to coach at this level. He will be grateful for that, as am I, and I’m sure he will be desperate to make sure he stays here.

They (Bristol City) are changing a bit. They are a young hungry squad with a lot of academy graduates in their first team - they are doing something really brilliant at that club.

He has inherited a young, hungry and athletic squad which has a really good foundation from Nigel’s work. It’s going to be a tough game for us. The more British coaches that are in there doing their thing I am all for it.