By Simon Peach

HONEST Russell Martin has acknowledged automatic promotion is now likely beyond Southampton after his side’s lacklustre display at Blackburn saw them stumble to a scoreless draw. Having fought for a toptwo finish in the Championship for much of the season, Saints’ profligacy in front of goal proved costly in the last-gasp Good Friday draw with Middlesbrough and even later loss to Ipswich on Easter Monday. Those frustrating results were compounded by a lack of attacking spark at Ewood Park, where fourth-placed Southampton created little against well-dr...