Russell Martin insisted Southampton will not shift styles on their return to the Premier League after victory in the Championship playoff final and vowed to prove any sceptics wrong. Saints sealed an instant return to the top flight after Adam Armstrong’s first-half strike was sufficient to beat Leeds and Martin said he plans to stick with his possession-based philosophy.
Martin, who captained Norwich to the Premier League via the playoff final nine years ago, has developed his style since taking his first steps into coaching in League One with MK Dons. He was tasked with earning promotion after leaving Swansea to take charge at Southampton last summer and revealed his first promotion as a manager was “the best feeling I’ve had in football”.
