Russell Martin adresses Southampton's problem in the final third

Southampton, now bottom of the Premier League table after a 2-0 defeat at Wolves on Saturday, have scored the lowest number of goals (seven) in the Premier League this season.

They failed to register a shot on target at Molineux - their only real chance to score came when Ryan Manning fired in a short-lived equaliser later chalked off by VAR.

"It's not enough," Martin told the Daily Echo: "We defended against such numbers and I guarantee I'll get asked a question about the style of play today.

"We can't just turn up and fight. The club is not built on that, the team is not built on that, we haven't recruited to do that, we haven't got the physicality to do that.

"When you see the moments of transition today, it's not really our forte. The team builds up to get to the final third.

"We've got to structure and put people in positions where they can do their stuff. Unless Tyler's on (the pitch), we probably haven't got a one-vs-one specialist.

Cameron Archer had 12 touches in 73 minutes against Wolves (Image: Nick Potts/PA) "So there's a balance to be had. Ryan Fraser is still not fit and he gives us something where he can really cross the ball and take people on.

"We have to try and do it in a different way and we get in their box a lot as well in the first half, it just doesn't come to enough."

He continued: "I think at 0-0 they'll probably make different decisions. I think they'll have a bit more conviction and a bit more aggression.

"It's up to us to get the team there. The structure of the team gets them there and their bravery on the ball gets them there. 

"But at the minute the balance is the guys at the back take all the risk and the courage, or the perceived risk and show all the courage.

"The guys at the front have to do a bit more and it's our job to free them up somehow and to give them more moments where they are one-vs-one.

"We did have so many good moments in the first half and it just doesn't come to enough so I think a coach's job is to find a problem and find a solution.

"We had a few problems in build-up early on in the season but the lads have come through that brilliantly the way they play through people. 

"Now we have problems in the final third - scoring goals last season wasn't a problem - so maybe less focus now on the build-up and more in the final third for sure.

"No other team in the bottom of the league gets to the final third as much as us. Objectively as well as subjectively. So we have to do more with it, of course we do."

Dibling came on at half-time to replace Manning, giving Saints the one-vs-one specialist Martin felt they needed.

Tyler Dibling recently received his first England under-21 call-up (Image: Nick Potts/PA) The 18 year old completed three of his four dribbles but was left with no options when receiving the ball in difficult areas.

Martin admitted it was a difficult decision to withdraw Manning, who had caused problems down the left wing beyond his disallowed goal. 

"I think at that point it is harsh on Rhino (Manning), but we're trying to keep Adam Armstrong on because he has goals in him, he runs to goal," Martin explained.

"With Tyler, we just felt we needed someone to unlock them a little bit and give us something. And we wanted to keep three centre-halves on the pitch for set plays.

"We felt we could be a real threat and we should have scored one with Taylor Harwood-Bellis inside the first half."