Russell Martin on what happened to Jay Stansfield in Birmingham City v Southampton game

Russell Martin has no problem with Jay Stansfield taunting the away dugout against Southampton, admitting Birmingham City fans ‘will go away thinking I’m a complete a*******’.

Stansfield scored the Blues’ second goal in their 4-3 loss to the Saints at St Andrews. The Fulham loanee took advantage of Jan Bednarek’s error and fired into the roof of the net shortly before halftime.

Some of the striker’s celebrations took place in front of the away dugout. Martin later revealed that Stansfield and his assistant, Matt Gill, a former Exeter City player, are buddies. The Southampton boss even distributed some to fans seated on the lower Main Stand near the dugout.

“There’s no problem. “He’s friends with Gilly,” Martin explained. “Gilly played with his father (Adam Stansfield), and they had a great relationship, therefore he is a family buddy. I appreciate him as a player, and I also enjoy how he has a character like that.

“We got a lot of stick from the crowd in the dugout, so we had a fantastic time scoring the winner. That is football. It happens, and I have no problem with it.

“We had a joke with him at the end, and I’m sure the Birmingham fans near the away dugout would think I’m a total a*******. That is fine as well.