MANAGER Russell Martin is "loving the challenge" as Saints approach the halfway mark of the season, but admitted he is "never fully satisfied."

Southampton's away trip to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday will mark the half-point of the Championship season - although Saints are yet to play Swansea City.

Martin's Saints currently sit fourth in the division, level on points with third-place Leeds United.

A 10-point gap remains between Southampton and Ipswich Town, who occupy the automatic promotion spots. 

Speaking ahead of his side's trip to QPR on Saturday, Martin gave his verdict on the first half of the season.

He said: "I am more excited than I was when I first walked into the building. We are absolutely loving the challenge.

"I'm loving the feeling we are building here and the spirit and togetherness and watching the team grow.

"I’m really proud of what the team is doing on the pitch. I’m proud of how far the connection has come between the supporters and the team has come in that space of time.

"The only frustration I have is with myself. The four-game period is frustrating but either side of that, the players have been amazing.

"The staff and the support we’ve had since we’ve been here has been brilliant. I’m grateful to be in this position as manager, it’s a real privilege.

"I feel the responsibility of that every single day and that’s what drives you on.

"I think we’re in a really good place, we’re ready to keep going, to keep building, to keep improving.

Martin continued: "There’s a lot of gratitude and pride in the work that the players have done. What they are giving us on the pitch is incredible at times.

"But you’re never fully satisfied when you sit in this position because of the amount of responsibility you have.

"As a group of staff, we know we need to improve, what we need to do to improve and we will keep giving everything we possibly can to do that.

"We have set ourselves up for a really exciting second half of the season. To do that after the September we had is no mean feat.

"It takes huge courage and intensity from the players and I’m really proud of them for that.

"The challenge is to keep doing it and be relentless in our approach. I think it’s going to be an exciting second half of the season."