Martin labels Southampton defeat to Cardiff 'unacceptable'

Cian Ashford struck a 96th-minute winner for Cardiff as they put a huge dent in Southampton’s bid for automatic promotion with a 2-1 win. 

Saints took an early lead through Joe Aribo and looked comfortable for most of the game before they were overhauled by a tremendous fightback.

Saints came into the game on the back of picking up nine points from three home games in a week.

Martin lamented the missed opportunity, saying: "It's unacceptable to lose that game with the amount of chances we have.

"We should have been out of sight at half-time. By the way, the second half as well, so many brilliant chances.

Cardiff made a wasteful Saints pay at the Cardiff City Stadium (Image: PA)

"We played some amazing football, but it won't matter one bit because we lost. I said something to the players after the game.

"If you're not going to have the conviction and ruthlessness and be clinical in their box, defend your own properly and we didn't."

Martin continued: "We put on our most attacking team and the subs didn't impact it anywhere near well enough or positively, but that's my fault for making them subs.

"I thought we started the second half well. We should have scored two or three goals before Cardiff had any chance close to our goal. 

"But, like I said, if you don't take that chance then you need to defend your goal properly, and we don't.

"We have six or seven guys in the box, they have four or five, and someone taps it in from two yards, and then the second goal is ridiculous for us. 

"It's completely unacceptable to allow someone come in the pitch on his strong foot and shoot from there. 

"It's just nonsense. So, yeah. I can't be any more honest than that really."