Adam Armstrong Speaks On Southampton ‘Positives’ Amid Newcastle Opening-Day Defeat

Saints forward Adam Armstrong insisted there were “plenty of positives” from their opening-day defeat at Newcastle United.

Geordie lad Armstrong, 27, played the full 90 minutes as Saints were beaten 1-0 by 10-man Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

Saints were positive as they dominated possession and shooting statistics but failed to make the extra man count and breakthrough Eddie Howe’s defence.

Armstrong insists it encourages the squad ahead of their first home match of the season against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

He told Sky Sports: “For the first game back, I thought there were plenty of positives and we can kick on for the next game.

“I think it was more the build-up before the goal that we touched on. Not passing and moving quick enough – that led to it.

“It’s nothing on Alex McCarthy, he’s been brilliant – we saw last season as well. That’s the way we play and we are enjoying it.

“We are going to be really attacking this year and we want to cause some upsets as well. We saw the three promoted teams come down last year.

“We know people will have written us off but we will keep working hard on the pitch. We definitely don’t want to get relegated.

“We could have taken a result, Newcastle are animals – I have seen it for years being a fan, they defend the box so well and that’s what you need.

“You need to punish teams and we didn’t do that today but the lads are really confident in the dressing room and we’ll take each game as it comes.”

Newcastle defender Fabian Schar was sent off after 30 minutes for a headbutt on Armstrong’s former Blackburn Rovers teammate, Ben Brereton Diaz.

“I was on the other side of the pitch but went over, I saw them go head to head but didn’t see what happened,” Armstrong said.

“He’s been sent off and I don’t know if it was a good thing or a bad thing, we were doing well against 11 men and then struggled to break them down.

“It was some great defending from them and we will learn from that massively. It’s the Premier League and the best teams in the world.”