Meet the opposition | Southampton
As Swansea City prepare to take on Southampton at the Swansea.com Stadium, we take a closer look at the Saints.
WHAT’S THEIR STORY?
Formed in 1885, Southampton have spent the majority of their history in the top division of English Football, with their best league finish coming in the 1983-84 season as they finished second, just three points behind champions Liverpool.
Following relegation from the Premier League in the 2004-05 season, the Saints spent seven seasons outside of the top flight, including two years in League One, before gaining promotion back to the Premier League in 2011-12.
They spent 11 seasons in the elite division – securing Europa League qualification on two occasions and finishing as high as sixth in that time – before being relegated at the end of last season.
HOW’S THEIR FORM?
Very good. Southampton are unbeaten in their last 20 games in all competitions, winning 14 of them.
That run has seen them climb to third in the table, equal the longest unbeaten run in club history, and lie just three points off the automatic promotion places.
They have suffered just two league defeats on their travels, against Sunderland and Middlesbrough.
WHO’S THE GAFFER?
Russell Martin. The former Swans boss moved to St Mary’s in the summer after two seasons in charge in SA1.
The Scotland international played for Wycombe Wanderers, Peterborough United, Norwich City, Rangers, Walsall and MK Dons across a 15-year playing career, but he is mainly associated with the Canaries, who he helped twice secure promotion to the Premier League.
Martin moved into coaching with MK Dons, where he won plaudits for his possession-based style of play and then joined Swansea in 2021.
He steered the club to back-to-back south Wales derby doubles, the first to be completed in 110 years of the fixture, and a 10th-place finish last term.
WHO’S THE CAPTAIN?
Jack Stephens. The defender has recently returned to fitness after a calf injury picked up in August.
Stephens came through the ranks at Plymouth before joining Saints in 2011 and joining their academy.
He made his first-team debut against Coventry in the FA Cup in 2012 and stepped up to the first-team squad ahead of their return to the Premier League in the summer of that year.
Stephens had loan spells with Swindon, Middlesbrough and Coventry before firmly establishing himself at Saints, helping them reach the Carabao Cup final in 2017.
He spent last season on loan at Bournemouth before signing a new contract at Saints in the summer.
WHO ARE THE KEY MEN?
Striker Adam Armstrong has been in superb form for Southampton, scoring 14 goals and setting up a further 11 for a remarkable 25 goal involvements.
His goal tally is second to only Blackburn’s Sammie Szmodics in the Championship.
Armstrong came through the ranks at Newcastle United to feature for the first team, also having loan spells with Coventry, Barnsley, Bolton and Blackburn, helping the latter secure promotion to the Championship.
He went on to join Rovers in a full-time deal and, in total, scored 60 goals in 160 games before moving to Southampton in 2021.
Armstrong has netted 19 goals in 94 games since.
Kyle Walker-Peters has two goals and two assists this season and has been among Southampton’s stand-out performers this term.
The Tottenham academy product had a loan spell with Saints in 2020 and then joined on a permanent deal.
He has made 147 appearances for them over those stints, and provides real energy up and down the right flank.
Experienced Scotland international Stuart Armstrong has dovetailed well alongside former Swan Flynn Downes and Will Smallbone in midfield.
The former Celtic man has always had an eye for goal and he has three goals and two assists so far this term.
Armstrong had spells on the books with Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Dundee United, making his first-team breakthrough at Tannadice.
His performances saw a move to Parkhead follow in 2015, and Armstrong won four league titles, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups before joining Southampton in 2018.
He has since scored 19 goals in 180 appearances, while Armstrong has also won 48 caps for Scotland and was part of their squad for Euro 2020.