MANAGER Russell Martin hopes Saints will use their late defeat against Ipswich last season as motivation when they face the Tractor Boys on Saturday.

Southampton fell to a late 3-2 defeat at Portman Road in April, all but knocking them out of the automatic promotion race in the Championship.

Martin admitted Saints used that defeat as fuel for their promotion push - and he hopes the squad can tap into that feeling again.

Saints are without a point from their first four games, while Ipswich have drawn twice, meaning both sides will be hunting for their first win.

Speaking at Staplewood on Thursday, Martin said: "I think it's a big game. I think every game in the Premier League is huge.

"They're going to be a tough opposition. We found that out last year. They've really improved in terms of what they've recruited.

"They have a really excellent manager and they're really good at what they do and it's going to be really interesting to come up against them again this season in the Premier League. 

"I feel like we are on our own journey, they're on theirs. I think it's a really exciting match."

He continued: "That defeat really hurt. I think you use anything. Part of our job is to be storytellers with the players.


"They are the main characters in the story. So last season, we used that as fuel a lot because the manner of the defeat really hurt.

"It was a real blow to us at the time after one of our best performances of the season. At times it was an incredible performance, but then we ended up on the losing end.

"We have a lot of different players now and I think this season is a different story, but maybe a few players, we can tap into that and make them understand, feel that again.

"I think they understand what's at stake. They understand the tough start to the season we're having. And they're desperate to put it right.

Martin made 10 changes for Southampton's trip to Everton on Tuesday evening and was delighted with how similar the team looked.

He admitted it has given him a few selection dilemmas ahead of facing Ipswich given the size of his squad and Jack Stephens' suspension.

"It gives us a lot of problems, which is great," he explained. "I think I said to the guys before the game, in difficult moments there always lies opportunity for things and people.

"It's just not quite been happening for whatever reason. So I think we had our best moments off the back of tough moments last season."