We Gave Them Something To Hang On To, Says Martin

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We Gave Them Something To Hang On To, Says Martin

Russell Martin was frustrated following our 2-1 home reverse to Burton Albion on Saturday.

2026-08-23T08:00+01:00

by Sam Jones

Published

23 Aug, 2026

We Gave Them Something To Hang On To, Says Martin

Russell Martin was frustrated following our 2-1 home reverse to Burton Albion on Saturday.

Sam Jones

2026-08-23T08:00+01:00

We Gave Them Something To Hang On To, Says Martin

Russell Martin was frustrated following our 2-1 home reverse to Burton Albion on Saturday.

Sam Jones

2026-08-23T08:00+01:00

We Gave Them Something To Hang On To, Says Martin

Russell Martin was frustrated following our 2-1 home reverse to Burton Albion on Saturday.

Sam Jones

2026-08-23T08:00+01:00

We Gave Them Something To Hang On To, Says Martin

Russell Martin was frustrated following our 2-1 home reverse to Burton Albion on Saturday.

Sam Jones

2026-08-23T08:00+01:00

We lost out 2-1 to Burton Albion in Sky Bet League One
Wes Burns scored in the reverse at King Power Stadium
Manager Russell Martin shared his thoughts on a first defeat of the season

Wes Burns’ goal wasn’t enough to take anything from the Sky Bet League One clash at King Power Stadium, which saw the visiting Brewers emerge with all three points following early strikes from Matthew Dennis and Kgaogelo Chauke ahead of Oliver Skipp’s sending off, which left us down to 10 men for over an hour.

Speaking after full-time on Filbert Way, our Manager pointed to the opening minutes as a pivotal part of the contest, giving us too much to do to get back into the game.

“We absolutely ruined it for ourselves by starting the game the way we did,” Martin admitted in his post-match assessment of proceedings. “[In] the first 25 minutes, we concede two really poor goals. It’s unacceptable for us.

“We can’t give teams a head start and then we have the red card and it becomes really difficult. We finished the first half really strong and then in the second half, for the team with 10 men to be so dominant is not normal, so I’m grateful to the players for the level of energy they put into the second half.

“And also for the crowd’s energy in the second half. There were some frustrating moments when we went down to 10 men, of course, but I actually thought they stuck with the team really well, which is not easy. It’s not been easy here for a while.

“But we have to show that level of fight and running and willingness to run and help each other and support each other in the first 25 minutes. Just a bit of self-preservation is not going to be us.

“We have to make sure that is the worst that we’re going to be. It’s as simple as that. We gave a team something to hang on to, so while we had a lot of good moments in the second half, that last bit of end product wasn’t there.

“I’m proud of the team in the second half but the game is too far gone. We let ourselves down. We can’t start a game like that.”

Speaking more on the reaction shown in second half, there are plenty of lessons to learn moving forward according to Martin, who is keen to see such a performance across the 90 minutes.

“Humility and bravery, they did that way better than us in the first 25 minutes,” the 40-year-old continued. “That’s the most hurtful bit. Then we were brave with the ball when we were down to 10 men. It’s that nothing-to-lose mentality by that point and we always have to play like that from the start.

“I said this season is not going to be easy and we’re going to get a few punches in the face, I’ve been really open about that. Today we got one and now it’s about how we respond.

“We have a process and a culture that everyone is aligned with and has brought a level of energy at Seagrave. The guys are starting to feel together. Monday to Friday, we trained so well this week.

“Today we looked completely different. We have to sort that out. We can’t be brave and run hard and fight each other in training in the best way and then deliver that here in the first 25 minutes.

“I have to take responsibility for that as a manager. I said to the players, we’re going to give them so much information, respect, care, love for them, but we have to do all the horrible stuff that makes you win. Anything else is irrelevant and we have to show we’re better.”

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