Southampton defender Ryan Manning says the players are not to blame for Will Still's sacking and claims it was "an easy thing to say for those looking in from the outside."
The 29-year-old played 12 Championship games under Still and is the club's joint second highest goalscorer this season with his two free-kicks against Wrexham and Watford.
After Still's departure some fans shifted blame to the players in the latter stages of his tenure.
But Manning feels Saints' poor results did not come down to a lack of effort from him and his team-mates.