Southampton manager Russell Martin said his side “have a lot to work on” after a poor pre-season defeat to newly promoted Championship side Oxford United.
Saints trailed 2-0 at half-time at the Kassam Stadium and failed to mount a serious response after the break despite Martin making seven substitutions.
“We lacked personality, character and energy for 45 minutes,” he told club press after the defeat. “We lacked intensity and that is a problem.
“It’s a problem, whether it’s in pre-season, whether it’s a Premier League game or a Championship game, so I’m disappointed about that.
“We have a lot to work on.”
It was Southampton’s first pre-season defeat and Martin’s side have meetings with Millwall, Lazio and Getafe before opening the Premier League season away to Newcastle on Saturday, August 17th.
“A lot of good things have been overshadowed,” he added. “It felt like a preseason game and I don’t like that feeling.”
