NorwichCity

Championship roundup: Southampton beat Swansea to go 21 games unbeaten

20-Jan-2024 17:35:40 | The Guardian

• 3-1 victory breaks 103-year-old Southampton record
• Norwich secure hard-fought 2-0 win over West Brom

Russell Martin has warned his players that Southampton’s new unbeaten club record will not carry as much weight if the club fails to return to the Premier League. Southampton broke a 103-year-old club record by extending their unbeaten run to 21 games with a 3-1 victory at Martin’s old club Swansea, lifting them to second place in the Championship, above Ipswich on goal difference.

First-half goals from Che Adams, Will Smallbone and Flynn Downes – his first for Saints coming on his 25th birthday and against his former club – put Southampton in control. However, they had to withstand late home pressure as Swansea twice hit the post and Gavin Bazunu made a couple of useful saves.

“It is a nice moment,” Martin said after his side completed Southampton’s best unbeaten run in all competitions since joining the Football League in 1920, eclipsing the 20 games undefeated achieved the following year. “I’m really grateful to the players for what they’ve done, the courage they’ve shown. I’m immensely proud. The way they did it in the first half, one of the best performances I’ve ever been involved in as coach.

“It’s taken a lot of hard work and they’ve really stepped up. They’ve written themselves in to the history books - and let’s keep it going. It will have more significance, importance and standing if we achieve what we want at the end of the season, otherwise it will be just something we’ve achieved together.”