DEFENDER Ryan Manning insists he is a "big boy" and can take criticism from supporters - but he hopes to prove them wrong. 

Manning, 27, signed for Saints on a free transfer last summer having excelled under Russell Martin at Swansea. 

The left-footer has come under fire from some sections of the Saints fans for being a perceived defensive weakness. 

Manning has only started one of the last three league fixtures following a run of eight matches in which he played every minute. 

The Republic of Ireland international told the Daily Echo: "Everybody has got their opinion and that is football.

Daily Echo: Ryan Manning has made 30 league appearances for Saints this seasonRyan Manning has made 30 league appearances for Saints this season (Image: Matt Watson - Southampton FC)

"Football is a game of opinions and without the fans, we wouldn’t be getting paid to do what we do.

"That’s part and parcel of it but I am a big boy and I can take it," he added. 

"As long as the manager is happy with my performances or if he thinks I can do better then ultimately he is the man I have to impress.

"We have a group with a competitive squad and everyone is fighting for positions so, rightly so, if you are not on it for a game or two then you probably come out the team.

"Hopefully, I can get a little bit less stick from the fans but it’s part and parcel and I need to prove them wrong." 

Manning completed 90 minutes of Wednesday's 3-0 defeat at Liverpool in the FA Cup fifth round. 

He was one of Southampton's most involved players in possession and leads the Championship this season for progressive passes. 

Although Manning operates in a back four, he believes his unique positional demands are sometimes the reason for being exposed. 

"You can’t be everywhere - I wish I could," Manning explained. 

"We play a particular style of football and you would have to really understand it and see it for what we are doing.

"The conventional positions that people probably played themselves at the local level are not the way we play them."

Manning continued: "You would have to spend a few weeks with Russell Martin to understand it - it took us a while!

Daily Echo: Ryan Manning in action at Anfield for the first timeRyan Manning in action at Anfield for the first time (Image: Matt Watson - Southampton FC)

"It’s a unique style of football and the positions we get into may cost us defensively at times but it can also be the key to unlocking teams and creating chances to win games.

"If there is a problem with our positioning they’d have to take it up with Russell Martin! He will teach them and help them to understand better."

Saints were well beaten by Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool in 90 minutes but had more than their fair share of chances to go ahead.

Manning admired the bravery of his teammates to play the way they wanted in front of the Premier League leaders. 

"I don’t think there will be many teams that come here and play out through them like we did in the first half," he said. 

"We had lots of chances but it was a game of who was more clinical and, in the second half, they were.

"We have to use the performance as a platform to take into Saturday and the remaining 12 games.

"We want to build on it and hopefully we can emulate that at Birmingham."

Saints visit Birmingham City on Saturday, March 2 (3pm), with five points to make up on promotion rivals Leeds United and Ipswich Town.