Every word Southampton's Martin said ahead of Coventry City

How is Flynn Downes after illness at the weekend? 

RM: We’re the same squad plus Flynn. He trained today, felt good, felt relaxed, fingers crossed that’s the case for tomorrow.

The team (on Saturday) was very similar to the one I had in my mind, maybe one or two changes. Joe (Aribo) came in and did brilliantly, he was ready for it.

When you have an opportunity you have to be ready for it, and Joe was. We’re in a positive place, we can only focus on ourselves.

There is lots to think about but have we veered too far from the plan due to Saturday's result? No, but the energy wasn't quite where it was.

We have had a really good chat with the players and have understood why the spark wasn't quite there. If it's not there, you need to win. 

Nothing against Shea Charles or anyone else but you realise how good Downes is when he's not there, don't you? 

RM: Flynn is a leader and has hundreds of games at this level, him missing is going to impact the team somehow but I thought Shea (Charles) was brilliant.

Shea is a brilliant signing for this team for now as he is making a big impact, and for the next three or four years too. 

He's an outstanding young talent and with that comes some mistakes as you learn on the pitch as you go.

I think he’s getting better and better, but of course, we’ll miss someone like Flynn. Shea is being helped by Flynn a lot and he is pushing Flynn too. 

He’s been so influential and important, the team has been so settled. Gavin, the two centre backs and Flynn, is so important. We've learned as much as we can from Saturday. It’s a big week.

When you look at a team like Man City, missing Rodri in the number six is so important and it shows how tough it is to replace someone in that position. 

I was slightly frustrated by Sekou Mara's substitution but he played really well off the bench, how does he become consistent? 

RM: I thought Sekou did well, he had a couple of moments and ran to the goal once when the ball should come to him but it didn't. 

He should score and those moments can change the course of someone's season so I have been really pleased with him over the last couple of weeks.

I thought he came on against Cardiff and was excellent. It's really hard for someone to come on late in the game and impact it. 

The only reason Che came off was because he was physically fatigued and hasn't played a huge amount of minutes. 

We have to be brave enough to put the young guys in and we have a couple brilliant ones. Sam Edozie has been so frustrated to not be on the pitch recently.

Looking back, should I have brought him on - probably, but you make mistakes and learn from that game to game. 

On the whole, the subs have had a good impact but on Saturday you could definitely do some things differently. You have to go on instinct at that moment.

Sam has trained brilliantly and will have his moment. Sekou has trained brilliantly, all the guys not in the team have trained brilliantly. 

I said to the players that as long as they train properly and add value to their teammates but don't want to smile and be happy with me, I completely understand. 

You want them to have a sense of frustration if they are not playing, you want them to have an edge with it and this group use that in the right way. 

Sekou has to get on the pitch more to be a consistent performer but unfortunately, he is not in control of that, he is only in control of what he does every day. 

Sekou needs to think less and start playing on instinct. It's a fine balance as, at the start, there was a lot to think about and learn.

We are at a point now where they need to think less and start playing with feeling and instinct and to back themselves. 

They need to go wild at times when they need to and I think we didn't have enough of that at Watford. It's up to us to help them find that.

It's nice to hear you say that as you don't want total control all the time? 

RM: We don't want robots. We want a certain amount of control to get to the right end of the pitch but then the players need to let loose. 

From our goal to the final third, if we don't do things properly then we don't get there as much as we should - but we spend a lot of time in the final third. 

After that, let loose and express yourself. Be free. The guys at the back take a lot of what people call risk so in the final third there needs to be more. They need to enjoy themselves. 

As a young manager, you must be impressed with the job Mark Robins has done?

RM: I have so much respect for Mark and Adi (Viveash, assistant manager), and all the staff. As people foremost, but then when you look at the job they have done.

Everything they have gone through with that club is absolutely incredible. I always enjoy seeing them after games. 

Mark has been someone who has helped a lot from afar, whenever I have bumped into him after games he has always had a brilliant bit of advice. 

They have been consistent and successful and have so much unity. No disrespect to Luton Town or Rob Edwards, but to see them get to the Premier League would have been amazing. 

I have a huge amount of respect but I really want to beat them tomorrow. In football, people really respect the job they have done. 

Maybe outside he doesn't get the respect he deserves but I don't think that will bother him one bit. That's not how he is built. 

It's always a challenge facing his team, tactically, so I will enjoy that, but he will want to win and so do I. 

Callum O'Hare has returned and they might have Matt Godden back - they could be even better than on Friday? 

RM: They are two players who have been through the journey and stood up the whole way. Callum was a big loss when he got injured. 

There was a lot of other clubs interested in him and he looks like he is getting back up to speed very quickly. 

They have added well and I have worked with a couple of players at Swansea in Jake Bidwell and Joel Latibeaudiere. 

They have great characters in the group and they are willing to run and fight for each other. I am looking forward to it. 

Watford was a different challenge to what we probably expected. I said to the players, we maybe prepared them for something that didn't come out as we thought. 

You are making an educated guess and you can't prepare for everything. Coventry will be a different test and then Blackburn will be really different.