Captain Jack Stephens was sent off for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair as the Premier League’s bottom side was beaten 5-1 by leaders Chelsea.

Defender Stephens saw red in the 39th minute at St Mary’s after pulling Cucurella’s curls in an inexplicable moment of madness.

Chelsea were already leading 3-1 at the time thanks to goals from Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke after midfielder Joe Aribo canceled out Axel Disasi’s early opener.

Second-half goals from Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho put Martin’s men in further distress as they were booed off the pitch at the final break.

Martin replied: “I understand that people want their team to win and when they see such a big result and a few goals conceded, I understand that.”

The remaining Saints fans boo the announcement of the next home game. Also booed full time.#SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/bqDdFJUzMu

— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) December 4, 2024

“So it’s football, right? It’s emotional and people feel so strongly about it, that’s why it’s such a special sport in this country and so big that I understand it.”

“I’m really proud of the players tonight. Some of the football they played, we played, 11 against 11 was great and we should have been 1-0 up.”

“We conceded such bad goals, a set piece and a mistake, but the reaction was great, we are so in the game, have good moments and hurt them with the ball.”

“They also hurt us because they have top talent, but I saw a team that looked confident and took a lot of the ball in the press at the start of the game.”

“There was a moment that changed the game because I thought we were in the thick of things, there were goals for us and then we went in so deep for an hour with 10 men.”

“There were some great performances and I’m proud of them and I’m grateful for that because it’s not easy in these circumstances.”

“At that point it would be so easy to stop running and not want the ball, but they didn’t do that and there were some great performances.”

Martin had almost a dozen players unavailable due to suspensions, injuries and loan bans – as the manager made four changes since the 1-1 draw at Brighton.

Sport Republic and the entire Saints management team are holding a kind of conference in front of the stadium grounds. #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/7eyzqVt6T6

— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) December 4, 2024

Sport Republic and the entire Saints management team were in attendance at the clash at St Mary’s and were pictured at a pre-match meeting.

Asked how he expected they would judge the evening given the circumstances, Martin replied: “I hope they would judge any other performance the same way.”

“We have to be realistic and put things in perspective. We played for an hour with ten men against one of the best teams in the country at the moment.”

“You see a team that absolutely sticks together and fights so hard and that shows that in the way they run and want to take the ball away from each other.”

I think all I can ever ask of them is that they work as hard as they can and that they fight as hard as they can – and I believe they do.”