Since then, Southampton have been in a state of flux, having been relegated from the Premier League in their first full season at the helm, before making an instant return to the top flight last season.

With only four minutes of added time remaining, it looked like relegated Southampton were about to secure a vital point against Fulham at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday. The result would have been the first time the Saints avoided defeat in back-to-back league games this season.

In the ruthless theatre of Premier League football, where triumph and collapse are never far apart, Southampton have taken centre stage for all the wrong reasons. Relegated with seven games still to