Russell Martin encourages players to celebrate win as he watched Brentford struggle against lower opposition in league cup

The St Mary’s side dramatically booked a place in the last eight of the Carabao Cup but it should have been a much simpler task than it became.

Saints were two goals ahead against the Championship outfit but required an 88th-minute James Bree wonder strike after giving up the lead.

It follows Saints collapsing against Premier League relegation rivals Leicester City to an eventual 3-2 defeat in the last home outing.

But Bree’s long-range effort means Saints got over the line and will wait to learn about their quarter-final opponents in Wednesday evening’s draw.

Speaking after the match, manager Martin said: “We spoke before the game about winning it and making sure we get through.

“I came back in and also saw Brentford with a really strong team out struggling against their Championship opposition – it’s never easy in the cup.

“We got through, we made it tougher than it should have been for sure, but we also showed a bit of character to get through a bit of adversity in the game at 2-2.

James Bree scored Southampton’s winner in emphatic fashion (Image: Stuart Martin)

“At 2-0, we conceded a goal which was madness because we were so dominant in the first half, I really enjoyed the performance. 

“I think the final decision in the box in the final third wasn’t quite there and we should have made more of the dominance we had,” added Martin.

“At 2-1, the context of the game changes completely, so I was annoyed about that. Then we’re trying to be aggressive and get caught on the counter-attack.

“Breezy scores and the defenders spent a lot of time in the opposition in the final third tonight because we were aggressive and we dominated territory.”

Martin insists he has taken some learning from last season when Saints blew a two-goal lead at home to Watford in the Championship.

Midfielder Flynn Downes netted in the 99th minute to rescue all three points in a 3-2 win that kept automatic promotion hopes alive for another week.

“I want the performance to be better but I made a mistake last year, I went to town on the players after that game,” said Martin. 

“I think it surprised a lot of them because we managed to win the game. So I think I learned my lesson from that really because we didn’t win after that.

“I think it affected us a bit and we need to celebrate every victory as a group, whether it’s against a Championship team in the cup or a Premier League game.

“The guys were a bit annoyed coming in, they didn’t look very happy, so I reminded them they’re allowed to smile that we won and we’re in the quarter-final.

“They came in a bit flat and a bit, well, not smiling. And then by the end, they are and the music was on so hopefully we can carry that on Saturday.”