Southampton: End of unbeaten run may mean Saints 'play with a bit more freedom'

After Southampton's club-record 25-game unbeaten run came to an end at Bristol City on Tuesday, BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore believes a first loss since September may allow the Saints to "play with a bit more freedom".

Speaking on the Goin' Home With Adam and Jo podcast, former Saints player Jo Tessem said the squad "have got to recover and reset, find the little bit of comfort and feel sorry for yourself for a couple of days".

He continued: "You don't like losing. None of these players like losing. You do know, when things go wrong, that the loss was going to come at some point."

"You build up and build up, you've been chasing records and everything is on that momentum and everyone is talking about it.

"At some point, maybe you're a bit tired after taking it as seriously as you do, you think things are going to go by itself - it doesn't, football is not like that, you've got to be ready for every game."

Southampton return to Championship action on Friday when they face fifth-placed West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

Blackmore added: "I like my glass to be half-full, not half-empty. The run's gone so maybe that's just one thing not on their shoulders any more. Maybe they can play with a bit more freedom because there's no doubt they're all aware they were doing something towards a record. I reckon that does create a bit of pressure."

Listen to the Goin' Home With Adam and Jo podcast on BBC Sounds

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o67CZ5qopV%2BovbC%2B02iYq6yZmLmmv46caZ6llKOCqIDJa6Y%3D