SAINTS manager Russell Martin insisted his side "lacked fight, aggression, spirit and togetherness" in their 3-1 defeat at AFC Bournemouth.

The Cherries raced to a three-goal lead through record signing Evanilson, Dango Ouattara in fortuitous fashion and Antoine Semenyo at Vitality Stadium.

Defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis spared Southampton embarrassment with a header but they never looked likely to mount a second-half fightback.

Martin resisted making in-game changes until half-time, following a tactical switch of formation ahead of the match, but admitted he could have moved sooner.

He told the Daily Echo: "I think it surprised me, I was a little bit hurt by the response to conceding as we started the game so well.

"Maybe after two goals, maybe I should have changed it but maybe I just put too much trust in the guys out there that we'd get through that.

"We were much better in the second half but whatever personality you have on the pitch and whatever way you play...

"If you lack the fight and aggression and spirit and togetherness and courage that we lacked in the first half, you're going to have a big, big problem. 

"We spoke about Bournemouth taking quick set plays and playing forward and all of their strengths, which is why it hurt even more."

He added: "I feel we prepared the team to understand the opposition's threats and strengths but I haven't given the team enough in terms of mentality.

"That really hurts me because I think they are traits as a human being have got me this far, so far, but the team hasn't got it tonight. So that's my fault.

"I'm coming off the pitch at the end and I thank them for running and fighting in the second half and actually, I don't think you should ever thank them for that.

"I think that should be the bare minimum. Obviously, I haven't given them enough in between their ears to respond properly to a setback.

"And then the anxiety takes over again in the first half because we put ourselves in a situation that in the Premier League is almost impossible to come back.

"It's ridiculous. Then that takes over and then they go into self-preservation mode and I hate that. I hate that from our team. 

"Don't look after each other. With the ball, just dump the ball on each other. They start throwing their arms at each other. 

"I'll never accept that, ever, and that's a problem. And then a couple of guys come on who should be playing. They should start.

"Joe Aribo is outstanding when he comes on. Ross Stewart is outstanding. Adam Lallana. They show fight and spirit. They show courage. They show aggression. 

"Bournemouth make 20 fouls. We make 10. I think that sums up the whole game. It's impossible if you're not going to fight. I need to work out a way."