Southampton fans sang for manager Ralph Hasenhuttl to be sacked, despite the under-fire boss leading them to a 1-0 victory over local rivals Bournemouth.
The Saints climbed out of the Premier League bottom-three thanks to an early goal from Che Adams, but visiting supporters made it clear they have had enough.
Scotland international Adams scored the only goal of the game in the ninth minute, brilliantly heading in Romain Perraud’s first-time cross.
That was about the only moment of real quality in the final third from either team, with Bournemouth coming back after going a goal down but failing to really test goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.
It is the Cherries’ first defeat under interim manager Gary O’Neil, who is hoping to have done enough to be given the job full time.
For Hasenhuttl, meanwhile, a victory in the south coast derby appears to have given him a stay of execution, although you wouldn’t think that if you listened to the visiting fans.
The home supporters were drowned out throughout the Vitality Stadium clash, as the Saints faithful turned on their boss with chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ despite leading the game 1-0.
Chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ were later heard from the away end after Hasenhuttl replaced winger Joe Aribo with centre-back Lyanco with 25 minutes left on the clock.
It’s perhaps harsh on the Austrian coach, who seems to have a knack of producing results when he needs them, with this victory Southampton’s first in six games – since their surprise win over Chelsea in August.
Adams’ header was also the Saints’ first away goal in four fixtures, while they also kept their first clean sheet in 17 games – a run that stretches back to April 16 last season.
Three points also lifts Southampton out of the relegation zone into 14th place, with Bournemouth sitting above them in 11th.
The club has been hit with recent rumours of unrest in the dressing room and claims Hasenhuttl has ‘lost the dressing room’, but the scenes at full-time painted another picture.
And while it seems a growing group of fans want a change in the dugout for the first time since Hasenhuttl’s appointment in December 2018, it looks again like the coach has given himself more time.
The 55-year-old is often at the top of the bookmakers’ favourites to be the next Premier League manager to lose his job, but he has been overtaken in the top flight sack race by Steven Gerrard who is under pressure in the Aston Villa dugout.
But with in-form teams Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Newcastle to come in their next three games, it does appear fans might get their wish unless Hasenhuttl performs another miracle.
