Martin fears Southampton season is viewed 'differently' after losses

The St Mary's side lost 1-0 to Stoke City at home, having been beaten by Cardiff City and Leicester City in the last week. 

Saints had hoped to mount an automatic promotion charge but must now rely on the Championship playoffs.

Tyrese Campbell netted the only goal for the Potters in the first half, driving into the box and finishing through the legs of Alex McCarthy.

Martin said: “It's been a disappointing week. I really hoped we could bounce back after the last two defeats but we haven't been able to do it.

“My fear is the last week will really change how people feel about the season. If we end up on the points we ended up in and won three games this week, I think it's a very different feeling.

“The players have done some amazing stuff, the fans have been amazing and then we end at home on that today and it's disappointing.

“But it's been a relentless schedule. I think everyone's really tired, it's not an excuse about today.

Saints have slipped to three consecutive defeats (Image: Stuart Martin)

“It's why we changed the team and made some changes to try and get some energy but actually what we got is a little bit of a disruptive performance. 

“So yeah, it's a frustrating way to end it but the end goal hasn't changed and we still can go on and achieve something incredible.

“I think 11 games in 33 days, whatever it's been, it's been really tough. I'm knackered. I keep getting texts from my mum asking if I'm alright.

“She sees my interviews and I think they've got more and more tired as it's gone but my energy has to go on all the players and all the staff.

“To then come out in front of you guys all the time and try and find the end, it's not easy, right?

“We have a week before the next game, it's a bit of recovery time but also time to work on the training pitch which will be invaluable for us.”

Martin added: “It's just been so hard to keep, we can't, we haven't been able to train properly really. 

“The lads have just been play, recover, try and get as much in the video room as we can, walkthroughs on the grass but it's not the same as feeling it properly in training.”

Saints were denied a penalty at 0-0 when Sekou Mara was punched by goalkeeper Daniel Iversen, in a contest for the ball. 

The Frenchman’s header was cleared off the line by Luke McNally in the process, before a spot-kick shout for both teams in the second half.

Martin insisted: "I think the referee has got every penalty decision wrong. They should have one and we should have two

"The fourth official said it was a coming together but it's not. Sekou gets clattered. But then they should have a penalty and so should we again with Sam Edozie.

"So two-one us. But we shouldn't have to rely on that anyway."