IT TOOK me some time to fall asleep after watching that performance against Leicester City on Tuesday evening.

Like every supporter, I was left annoyed and disappointed by the character shown against a promotion rival. I’m still angry about it now.

We have seen so much to be happy and confident about this season, but on the odd occasion, there has been cause for concern.

We didn’t match Leicester in the basics, that is what has upset me more than anything.

Yes, we could have defended certain scenarios better, but it is about the manner in which you lose a game of football.

Anyone of us would find it hard to accept a defeat but we did not match them from a work rate perspective.

The heart and desire to win that game of football, especially when they knew what was at stake, was not there.

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Had I been playing I would have been angry with myself because I was a part of the problem. I would not have separated myself from anyone because I was in the team.

If you are on the pitch you are responsible, even if you have done well. I was often quite harsh on myself as a player but if I felt someone in the dressing room had to be pulled, I was not afraid to do that.

Sometimes you would do that without much of a leg to stand on and a teammate would raise your shortcomings. These discussions, as feisty as they were, were never personal.

The difference of opinions meant you would come to blows on occasion, but I never felt as though that was a bad thing.

I know I’m not alone in my anger. I’m not accusing the players of not thinking this way, but I genuinely hope they understand what it means to so many of us.

Footballers are in a privileged position to pull the shirt on. You can never get beaten for a lack of effort.

You can be beaten by better players or a bit of luck - there is no excuse for being run into the ground and outworked.

The good thing about football is you quickly get a chance to get over your bad days. We have got to turn it around.

They need to show a reaction on Saturday because there will be 30,000 people at St Mary’s who would do anything they can to wear that shirt and would give everything they’ve got every week.

Jack Stephens was very clear when speaking after the game that he will demand his teammates bounce back. As he said, it should be easy.

If I was a player, I would be counting down the seconds. I would be desperate to be in the starting lineup and put things right.

I liked what I saw from Jack after the full-time whistle. By demanding his teammates all applauded the travelling away fans we saw a clear visualisation of his leadership.

Being the captain, he felt it was his duty to face the press, despite only coming on after Leicester had scored their fifth goal.

Anyone who has interacted with Jack or knows what he is like as a person would not be surprised to see the leader he is.

As a captain, you can have an influence at the training ground by setting standards on and off the pitch. You can have an influence on a match day, but there is also another level again.

Having him on the pitch from a leadership perspective would have made a different game. As a skipper, you do not need to be a ranter and a raver. You have got to be prepared to speak up.

Jack did that when the moment was right for him to do so. You can never accept second-best and you can never not give everything. Jack ticks both of those off.

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I also wanted to make mention of my upcoming event with the Saints Foundation - Benali on Tour.

Myself and 50 other fundraisers will be taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge next week ahead of the game at Leeds United.

The money raised will go to the brilliant Saints Foundation, who I have seen do brilliant work in the local community.