Southampton potential midfielder Will Smallbone makes Leeds United admission ahead of Championship clash
Southampton potential midfielder Will Smallbone makes Leeds United admission ahead of Championship clash
Southampton have lost their last four matches in the Championship and have slipped down to 15th in the table ahead of this weekend’s meeting with Leeds United at St Mary’s
Will Smallbone says Southampton must get a result against Leeds United this weekend to end their miserable run of form.
Saints have lost their last four Championship matches on the bounce, conceding 12 goals in that time as Sunderland, Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough have all taken three points off Russell Martin’s side.
The results have seen Southampton slip to 15th in the table ahead of Saturday afternoon’s clash with Leeds at St Mary’s. The Whites are currently sixth in the Championship after winning three and drawing four of their first eight games of the new campaign.
Smallbone, who signed a contract with Southampton this summer, says he can’t quite put his finger on why his side have struggled so much in recent weeks but says mistakes must be eradicated for a start.
“I think there is a lot of confidence but I don’t know what it is,” the midfielder told the Daily Echo. “We’ve had a lot of mistakes and we seem to be getting punished for mistakes at the minute.
“With the way we’re going to play, there’s obviously going to be some mistakes. We need to be closer and fight for each other to stop mistakes turning into goals.”
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“It goes the other way, as well. We need to capitalise on mistakes to have that extra edge going forward and get us out of a sticky situation.”
He added: “We need to make sure we get a good result against Leeds. It’s a big occasion and we need to give the fans a performance and a result they deserve and to be proud of.”
After spending last season on loan in the Championship with Stoke City, Smallbone returned to Southampton over the summer where he quickly established himself as an important player in Martin’s midfield.
The 23-year-old has started all six Championship matches he has been fit for so far this season and has been utilised as the holding, defensive player in a midfield three as well as playing further forward.
“I’m happy to do whatever the gaffer asks me. Last season, I played a lot as the attacking midfielder in a (Stoke City) team,” he added. “I have been asked to be more in that defensive midfielder role. I go out there and try my best whatever the gaffer asks of me. Whatever position, I try to do it to the best of my ability.”
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