Southampton manager Nathan Jones has slammed a "disrespectful" comment put to him ahead of the game against Nottingham Forest.
Ahead of the match against Forest at St. Mary's, Jones was asked for his take on claims their star midfielder James Ward-Prowse is "carrying" the struggling south coast side. The Saints are currently rock bottom of the Premier League with 12 points, two less than Forest.
Ward-Prowse has scored three goals from midfield this season, and the set-piece specialist has been far and away the standout player in a struggling side. But Jones took offence at suggestions Ward-Prowse has the Southampton team on his shoulders.
READ MORE: Nottingham Forest make big transfer call as summer signing 'made available' for exit
READ MORE: Forest equipped to navigate key month of crunch fixtures and transfer window
“Well, I think it's disrespectful to say he is carrying the team in terms of that you know," Jones said, per HampshireLive. "He's a big player for us because of the quality he has but there are a lot of players working hard out there.
"It's just we need a little bit more know-how and we need a little bit more discipline in certain elements of our play. And once we get that, then we'll start to win points.
"There's a good side in there but at the minute we're not showing that because we're not giving ourselves a chance. If you defend two set-plays better today then we can win that game or at least come out with something from the game and we should have today because the performance levels deserve that.”
What is your score prediction for the game against Southampton? Let us know in the comments section.
READ NEXT:
- Pundit highlights Southampton weakness Nottingham Forest can exploit
- Nottingham Forest stay up, Scarpa shines and Spence returns: Our writers make their 2023 predictions
- Predicted Nottingham Forest XI for Southampton showdown amid Gustavo Scarpa dilemma
- Forest show their potential as important marker achieved against Chelsea
- Brice Samba shocks PSG and Kylian Mbappe as Nottingham Forest hero shines in Ligue 1