Every word Southampton manager Russell Martin said after Hull City

First home defeat in a long time - what happened?

RM: The first half was rubbish. The second half was very good but that doesn’t matter very much when you’re 2-0 down.

No one cares if you play well in the second half when you aren’t good in the first half and are behind. Hull were good but we knew that from the first game.

We had a good chance with Rothwell before they can get into the game, we don’t take it, and somehow that doesn’t spur us on to go more aggressive.

Their goal is something we worked on in training yesterday as we’ve seen them do it a lot, so to allow that to happen is absolute nonsense.

Last week’s defeat was down to a lack of aggression, this week it was a lack of courage.

The two things you need is courage and aggression. Credit to Hull they were really aggressive but we have faced a lot of aggressive teams here and done a lot better.

The second half looks very different because Joe Aribo had the courage to take the ball, Che Adams had the courage.

There was a lot of moans at Gavin (Bazunu) when he did stuff with the ball but it’s not on him and he was outstanding when he actually had people to pass to.

I really understand the frustration around the whole place but the crowd were amazing in the second half and really stuck with us.

When you’re not brave enough, it looks disjointed and a bit messy.

Concerned with the problem facing that high-press system?

RM: We have faced that a lot of times. We went man to man against them and they went with it against us.

The difference was we were completely all-in and we weren’t. We have a setback early and don’t respond to it.

We lacked the courage to be the team we needed to be.

Joe Aribo delivered a captain’s performance?

RM: He was amazing. We have missed him so much

He showed that the other night when he came on and I think he is ready to start games now but he has been away for a while.

He is a huge player for us and you can see why, that is why he wore the armband in the second half when Adam went off.

He was outstanding. Jan Bednarek was incredible. I thought Gavin Bazunu was brave in the second half and the subs had a good impact on the game.

Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan (Manning) were also very good in the second half but we didn’t get them on the ball enough in the first.

Would you have done anything differently with your starting XI now?

RM: I just spoke about it with the coaching staff in there and I will watch the game back tomorrow so I will have a more educated opinion on that.

But I trust all the players so whatever team I put on the pitch I trust to do what we ask, I have no problem putting anyone out there.

Che (Adams) wasn’t ready to start, Wee Man got a whack on Saturday and after a chat we felt it was best for him to come on.

Joe Aribo, looking back now - would I play him from the start? Yes. But we knew he wouldn’t last the whole game as he’s been away for a while.

Hindsight is a beautiful thing isn’t it?

Nice to have another home game this week?

RM: I think it is, yeah. I thought the crowd were brilliant in the second half. I can’t stress that enough after a difficult first half.

The one thing with these players is that the quality and talent they possess means I always expect a response and I think we will get them.

Che Adams appears dejected after defeat to Hull City (Image: Stuart Martin)