Martin has Southampton united - he must now undo 'friends for life'

Manolo Gabbiadini scored the only goal at Liberty Stadium to conclude a four-match unbeaten run before champions Man City visited St Mary's on the final day.

The series of results consigned Swansea to relegation from which they have yet to recover and meant Saints finished 17th, preserving their Premier League status.

Thankfully, Les Reed could not find a Lamborghini

Only in 2023 would their run in the top flight finally come to an end, after more than a decade, worth more than £500milliin in revenue. 

Now, they face Swansea as Championship equals. Although, Premier League status is, in some ways, on the line every time Saints step out this season.

Leicester City continue to run away at the top of the table but the chasing pack can smell the blood of the overachieving Ipswich Town.

Dropping points in a 2-2 draw with rivals Norwich City was succeeded by a 4-0 hammering at the hands of third-place Leeds United on Saturday. 

There are now only seven points between Saints and the automatic promotion places when Ipswich must visit the vicious Foxes on Boxing Day.

The man in the dugout adds further bite to Southampton's festive fixture, which scarcely needs an additional lift amid the 29,000 home tickets sold. 

At a legal level, the two clubs were embroiled in a lengthy summer spat over the release of manager Russell Martin to become the new Saints boss. 

Russell Martin was joined by his staff from Swansea City (Image: Southampton FC)

A disagreement over the amount of compensation Saints should pay according to the differing clauses in Martin's contract rumbled on. 

A summer series of links to various Swansea City players including Nathan Wood, for whom the club unsuccessfully bid, and Joel Piroe proved fruitless. 

Free agent Ryan Manning, one of Swansea's best players last season under Martin, is in line to start against his former side after James Bree's injury at QPR. 

Martin does not know what reception he will get from the Welsh supporters at St Mary's on Tuesday. He spent two years in South Wales. 

His antics after this month's win 2-0 win over Cardiff City will have helped. Personal abuse from Swansea's rival fans gave the boss license to give "10 seconds back".

Here’s ex-Swansea boss Russell Martin letting Cardiff fans know he’s now beat them 5 times in a row 🖐️👀
pic.twitter.com/0FxL6WovPp

— The Second Tier (@secondtierpod) December 2, 2023

"I honestly don't know," Martin said. "I am incredibly grateful for my two years there, I am thankful to a lot of people in the technical area, on the pitch, and in the stands.

"When we were there, we gave everything we had - and by the time we left, I felt the supporters understood what we were doing and there was a big connection.

"I might be totally miles away from that and they might boo me, I don't know. Whatever it is will be, I am at a brilliant club now with a group of players I love."

Martin wears his heart on his sleeve, is an emotional manager, and will feel something unique when he steps out onto the touchline next week.

In a short managerial career, which also includes just over a season at struggling League One outfit MK Dons, Swansea remains close to his heart.

Assistant Matt Gill, goalkeeping coach Dean Thornton, analyst Ben Parker, and head of conditioning Rhys Owen all followed Martin to Saints. 

However, several staff and players remain from Martin's time at the Championship outfit. He labels some of them "friends for life". 

He added: "I look forward to catching up with them but only if we win. Despite my fondness for a lot of people, I really want to win."

Swansea find themselves managed by one of Nathan Jones' assistants at Saints, Alan Sheehan, on a caretaker basis. Former Bristol City man Jamie Paterson scored twice in a 2-1 win over Preston on Saturday (Image: PA)

It has been three weeks since Martin's replacement, former Barnsley boss Michael Duff, was sacked, and Swansea are still without a permanent replacement. 

Martin continued: "The supporters are probably frustrated because the same things keep happening again and again.

"It's no fault of the supporters or the people who work at the club on a day-to-day basis. Apart from that, I have no other opinion on that.

"I would be frustrated if I was a Swansea supporter because the club is fantastic and everyone in the city is a huge Swansea fan.

"Alan is doing a good job and their players are playing for him. They won this weekend through two moments of quality and I am sure their players will see an advantage.

"They know how we want to play, but we need to make sure that isn't an advantage and that our knowledge of their players is instead." 

It is apt that the final team Martin's Saints will play this campaign is Swansea. In the first half of the campaign, only Leicester and Ipswich scored more points than Saints.

With Southampton's ambition now visible on the horizon, just ahead of the January transfer window, Martin's Swansea reunion is even bigger. 

More Saints fans will be in the ground to cheer their side, who have not lost consecutive Boxing Day matches this millennium, than at any point so far this season.

Should Saints come through again without defeat, the club will have been on only one longer league unbeaten run in its 137-year history.