Southampton head coach, Russell Martin, has showered praise on Super Eagles midfielder, Joe Aribo, following his dramatic 96th-minute winner that secured all three points for the Saints in their recent match, according to Soccernet.ng.
Aribo, 27, has faced limited playing time this season both at club and international level, featuring in just eight games for Southampton and one for Nigeria at the AFCON 2023 tournament. Despite his sparse appearances, Aribo has made a significant impact when given the chance, notably scoring twice in his last five outings for Russell Martin’s side.
With Southampton trailing and just twenty minutes remaining in the match against Birmingham, Martin decided to introduce Aribo in a bid to salvage a result against the ten-man opposition. The move paid off handsomely as Aribo latched onto a loose ball from a corner kick in stoppage time and calmly slotted home to seal the victory.
Speaking after the game, Martin expressed his admiration for Aribo’s performance and clarified why the midfielder hadn’t been starting more frequently.
“I love all the players so I don’t mind who gets the winner. Aribo was brilliant today and unlucky not to start after the Liverpool game on Wednesday,” the 38-year-old manager said in quotes revealed by The Daily Echo.
Aribo’s crucial goal not only secured a vital win for Southampton but also propelled them within three points of Daniel Farke’s Leeds United in the race for promotion to the Premier League.
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