ADAMS ON TARGET TO SILENCE THE BOO-BOYS

RUSSELL Martin praised Che Adams’ character after he stepped off the bench to score a late winner as Southampton marked their return to the Championship with victory at Sheffield Wednesday.

- Steve Wilson

Adams was left out in favour of Adam Armstrong, who gave the visitors the lead, but came on and changed the course of the game with his late strike that silenced the taunting home fans, who took a dislike to his former stint across the city at Sheffield United.

Martin, who was frustrated at Lee Gregory’s second-half equaliser for the Owls, revealed the club turned down a bid for the striker a fortnight ago and praised his attitude in dealing with both that and his omission from the starting line-up at Hillsborough.

“The hardest decision for the team was to decide which one we played, I think we can get both on the pitch as well,” Martin said of Adams and Armstrong.

“They both got a goal and the way Che reacted to not playing was amazing – he brought brilliant energy and was respectful.