Former English footballer Theo Walcott is optimistic about Southampton’s prospects in the Championship play-offs this season, despite their less-than-ideal start to the campaign.
Southampton made an impressive start in the second tier of English football, securing 10 points out of their first 12 matches. However, their form took a hit, and they’ve only managed two wins in their last seven games. Consequently, they find themselves in tenth place in the league as they head into the international break.
In September, a series of four consecutive defeats put pressure on manager Russell Martin, but they rebounded with a notable victory over fellow newcomers Leeds United. This success was followed by a narrow win against Stoke City and a draw against struggling Rotherham United over the weekend.
The club faced significant player departures during the summer transfer window, including Tino Livramento, James Ward-Prowse, Nathan Tella, and Romeo Lavia, but they still possess a strong squad capable of competing at the higher end of the division.
While they currently sit just one point outside the play-off positions, they are already 13 points behind the early league leaders, Leicester City, and 11 points behind second-placed Ipswich Town. The team’s objective now seems to be securing a place in the end-of-season play-offs, a sentiment echoed by former player Theo Walcott, who recently retired. Walcott shared his thoughts in an interview with the Daily Echo via Hampshire Live, saying:
“You always expect the teams that get relegated to bounce back, but it’s not a straightforward journey. In this league, any team can beat another. Southampton has a young team and a young manager with innovative ideas. As far as I know, the players are quite supportive of him and content. That’s what you want as a team and as players.”
“As of now, I don’t see any signs of major trouble. They will overcome this challenge. I just believe it’s been more challenging than they initially anticipated. When you visit the stadium, you still feel like this is a Premier League club. That’s the aura I sense here. I think they will regain their footing, but it won’t happen overnight. I’m confident they will make it to the play-offs, but luck will also play a role, and only time will tell.”
Following the international break, Southampton will face a tough set of fixtures against three teams ranked higher in the Championship standings. This includes an away match against Hull City, a trip to Deepdale to face Preston North End, and hosting Wayne Rooney’s Birmingham City at the end of the month.
From the writer’s perspective, reaching the play-offs is now Russell Martin’s primary goal, as the gap between Southampton and the teams in automatic promotion places continues to widen. With just three points separating fourth place from eleventh, the upcoming matches this month could prove pivotal. Accumulating seven to nine points from these games could put Southampton back into contention.
Russell Martin is also likely to be keeping a watchful eye on the situation, but Southampton is currently on a three-game unbeaten streak, and they hope to maintain their momentum by consistently achieving positive results.