SAINTS manager Russell Martin insisted he has "no regrets" over his team selection in their FA Cup fourth round draw at Watford. 

The boss made nine changes from the side that beat Swansea City 3-1 last time out in the Championship.

It took an 89th minute strike from substitute Stuart Armstrong to secure a 1-1 draw and a home replay in Sunday's clash at Vicarage Road. 

Martin explained his team selection decision with Saints now looking to secure a fifth round trip to Liverpool following the draw. 

Asked if he wished he made fewer changes, Martin said: "Not one bit, because I have to keep the players happy and healthy and keep learning about them.

"They play together a lot in training and compete together. If they don't get on the pitch now, we have so many games in February - they will be needed.

"With the young guys, part of the reason we are in this job is because of what we have done with young players in the last four years."

He added: "If we don't give them opportunities we are not going to learn about them and they are not going to develop. I have no regrets about that.

"We knew the bench was strong and we would be in with a chance to finish the game well if we were still in it after 60 minutes." 

Saints had been behind thanks to a direct free-kick from Watford's Matheus Martins - which goalkeeper Joe Lumley will not want to see back. 

However, Saints made it an all-time club record of 22 games unbeaten in all competitions thanks to the late result. 

Martin responded: "They have got an amazing mentality and were relentless in the second half, the last 30 minutes in particular.

"They just won't accept being beat, which is an amazing trait for any team to have. I think we deserved that for the second-half performance.

"We had a lot of control in the first half but the goal is a rubbish one to concede. To give away the free-kick and to concede that goal is disappointing. 

"We lacked a bit of aggression at the start, we didn't have enough purpose with anything and were a yard off where we should be out of possession. 

"We were playing a good team and we had made a lot of changes, there was a lot of frustration at half-time - some of them wanted so badly to take their opportunity. 

"When they feel they are not, it is frustrating for them. We took that into the second half and were in a position where we could make some strong subs."

He continued: "The guys who came on made a huge impact in the game. We probably scored too late but were still trying to win it. 

"We finished up with a back-three to try and go all out for the win and it was a proper cup tie. 

"And 4,000 fans on a Sunday afternoon. It is not the most glamorous of cup ties but I am really pleased with the supporters, they were amazing. 

"There was no thought of a sub at half-time. It was about seeing whether the guys could increase the intensity a bit.

"They did but there was still a bit too much disappointment in the team at times. I said to them at the start, when we first came in, it is how we react to disappointment."