SAINTS manager Russell Martin insisted the defeat to Millwall was not down to tactics but instead "conceding two rubbish goals."

The St Mary's side suffered back-to-back losses for the first time since September as a result of goals of Japhet Tanganga and Zian Flemming. 

Che Adams levelled for Saints before Flemming's spot-kick, while Joe Rothwell and Adam Armstrong saw chances saved by Matia Sarkic. 

Saints set up in a new system with captain Jack Stephens in a hybrid defender-midfield role, and Kyle Walker-Peters out on the left of defence. 

However, speaking to the Daily Echo after the match, Martin insisted: "We concede two crap goals. That’s it.

"We had three massive chances and should score. It’s not normal to create that many big chances against a team in a low block.

"We should score but don’t. It’s nothing to do with tactics. If people want to talk about all that stuff, it’s not that. We conceded two rubbish goals."

He continued: "Wherever Jack is playing on the pitch at that point is not relevant as we’re all in a line defending. How we don’t deal with the free-kick, I don’t know.

"Maybe there is an offside, I haven’t seen it but the feeling from the analysts is that there is. It’s a floated cross and it loops into our goal.

"For the second goal, we don’t clear it twice and it ends up across our box for a penalty. That is the story of the game, nothing else - not tactics.

"We have had four or five big chances and dominated the game completely. Millwall had nothing else apart from the set-pieces but we have given them something else to hang onto."

Martin concluded: "I don't think there's a problem with the tactics but it's pointless. I always say if I feel I have got something wrong but you can't concede goals like that.

"Whatever shape you play, you can’t concede goals like that - it’s pathetic. This is what I felt today, the team needs Jack in it at the moment."

Saints are back in action with a visit to Liverpool in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday, February 28.