Russell Martin acknowledged automatic promotion is now likely beyond Southampton after his side바카라s toothless display at Blackburn saw them stumble to a scoreless draw. (More Football News)
Having fought for a top-two finish in the Championship for much of the season, Saints바카라 profligacy in front of goal proved costly in the last-gasp Good Friday draw with Middlesbrough and even later loss to Ipswich on Easter Monday.
Those frustrating results were compounded by a lack of attacking spark on Saturday at Ewood Park, where fourth-placed Southampton created little against well-drilled Blackburn in a forgettable 0-0 draw.
바카라I was positive about the way we defended, about the clean sheet,바카라 Saints manager Martin said.
바카라We바카라ve looked so dangerous and creative going forward recently but conceded too many goals, so we did a lot of work on that side of game.
바카라(I바카라m) pleased with that side of the game, pleased with the aggression in the team on that side of the game because it was a tough game and big credit to Blackburn.
바카라They바카라re fighting with everything they have but I바카라m really disappointed with the side we have been so good at recently, the creativity, the attacking flow. It wasn바카라t there today at all.바카라
Southampton바카라s inability to win in Lancashire further dented their hopes of automatic promotion, leaving them 12 points behind second-placed Ipswich with seven league games to go.
That run includes trips to Leicester and Leeds, with Martin looking for Saints to build momentum and peak again for the play-offs as they seek an immediate Premier League return.
바카라The guys still have a brilliant chance to get as many points as possible, so we can all look at each other at the end of the season and go 바카라well, we did our bit, it just wasn바카라t to be this season바카라,바카라 he said.
바카라We don바카라t deserve, none of them deserve, for the season just to finish flatly ahead of what is looking likely to be the play-offs.
바카라I think it바카라s really important we build some momentum and we go into it feeling good about ourselves, with a spring in our step and energy, and then the rest will take care of itself I바카라m sure.바카라
Saturday바카라s point was important for Blackburn, who dug deep having started the week with a fantastic 5-1 win at Sunderland.
The result edges John Eustace바카라s outfit closer to Championship survival, with Callum Brittain producing a key block to deny Kyle Walker-Peters with 10 minutes remaining.
바카라I thought it was an excellent game, really exciting game, good Championship game,바카라 the Rovers boss said. 바카라Two good teams going at it.
바카라I was really proud of the boys바카라 efforts. I thought we were outstanding with and without the ball, just disappointed that we couldn바카라t be a little bit more clinical in the final third.
바카라I think that바카라s the first time Southampton haven바카라t scored for 30 odd games, so that바카라s something very pleasing. It바카라s all the work that the boys are putting in on the training field.
바카라We were disappointed not to get a clean sheet on Monday but the boys have thrown their bodies on the line.
바카라Today, you could see that, you could see the commitment of the whole squad, the togetherness of the whole squad, which is vital at this stage of the season.바카라
