Bournemouth 3-1 Southampton: Russell Martin injured due to Saints’ “lack of courage and fighting spirit”.

Southampton coach Russell Martin says he is “hurt by the lack of fighting spirit and fighting spirit” his team showed in their 3-1 Premier League defeat Defeat at Bournemouth.

The result leaves the struggling Saints winless after six games in the top flight and sitting 19th in the table with just a single point – their worst overall start to a season since 1998/99.

Martin was particularly angered by the way his side appeared to capitulate after Evanilson opened the scoring for the hosts, who then scored twice more before half-time.

“They make 20 fouls to our 10 or whatever — I think that sums up the whole game,” Martin said.

“We were soft. Whatever personnel you have on the pitch, however you play, if you lack the fight and the aggression, the spirit, the cohesion and the courage that we lacked in the first half, you will be a big, big problem have.” .

“I didn’t recognize our team. I didn't like a lot of what I saw and the lack of fighting spirit and fighting spirit hurt me. Normally I'm proud of them for the courage they show, but that wasn't the case. Aggression, no courage, no intensity to play.”

While the Saints actually improved at half-time after being booed by traveling fans, Taylor Harwood-Bellis' header in the second half was little more than a consolation for Martin's team.

“I thought I had had enough of Bournemouth and the way they approached the game and how good they are at certain things,” Martin added.

“Obviously it wasn’t enough because we didn’t seem prepared for it, which is crazy given the work we’ve done.”

“After a good start, literally the first setback we have suffered in this game, they score. I left the pitch at the end of the game and thanked them for running and fighting in the second half and actually I don't believe you. “I should ever thank them for that, that should be the bare minimum.

Southampton are next in action when they face Arsenal in England's top flight on Saturday (3pm BST).