Southampton boss takes ex-Middlesbrough manager's advice on board before play-offs

RUSSELL Martin took Neil Warnock’s advice to take his Southampton squad out for a meal after being humiliated by Leicester, but says he did not go for the Chinese that the veteran ex-Middlesbrough manager had suggested.

Southampton visit West Brom in the first leg of their Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final on Sunday refreshed by last weekend’s 2-1 win away to fellow promotion contenders Leeds.

Victory at Elland Road came on the back of three consecutive defeats for Saints, ending hopes of automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Warnock has won a record eight promotions as a manager and, in his role as a TV pundit, had told Martin to take his players “for a Chinese” after they had been thrashed 5-0 at Leicester in the middle of that run.

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Saints boss Martin said: “I think when someone as wise and as experienced as Neil Warnock tells me to take the team out for a meal I think he’s spot on.

“It was a nice meal but it wasn’t a Chinese, it was a little bit healthier than that.

“I thank him for that advice. He was right that the players, after such an intense schedule, just needed it.

“The staff too. We were all together with the owners and the executive team here.

“We worked hard in the morning and had some food. We spent some time together and set the stall out for what’s to come. I think it was good advice and we took it.”

Southampton finished the Championship season in fourth place and 12 points above West Brom, while beating Albion both home and away.