Saints manager Russell Martin expressed frustration over Charly Alcaraz’s missed penalty against Blackburn Rovers, emphasizing that the Argentine “had to score.” Alcaraz attempted an Antonín Panenka-style chip, but it went awry, sailing over the crossbar. The miss occurred when Saints already held a two-goal advantage against 10-man Rovers.
Despite the penalty setback, Saints secured a 4-0 victory, with Sekou Mara scoring his first Championship goal and Alcaraz redeeming himself with a fourth goal. The 21-year-old acknowledged his earlier miss by apologizing to the Southampton fans behind the goal.
When questioned about Alcaraz, Martin bluntly stated, “He had to score after that. If you are going to do that, you need to score.” Alcaraz, who signed a contract extension this season, has now scored three goals across all competitions.
The win improved Southampton’s goal difference to +8, showcasing progress from earlier in the season, though they still lag behind other teams in the standings. Martin acknowledged the tight competition in the league, noting that the game positively impacted their goal difference.
Expressing satisfaction with the team’s performance and the atmosphere in the dressing room, Martin looked ahead to a challenging 10-day schedule, emphasizing the importance of staying focused on their own progress. Despite the demanding schedule, he sees it as an enjoyable challenge and remains optimistic about the team’s prospects.
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