Saints went to West Ham hoping that they might get the win that took us over the 11 point unwanted record, they didn't manage that, but a dogged gritty performance saw us snatch a well deserved point in the last minutes.

Simon Rusk is keeping it simple, unlike his predecessor Ivan Juric, he is not confusing the players with multiple changes both in terms of personnel and tactics, he made just one adjustment to the team that started against Aston Villa, out went Cameron Archer and in came Flynn Downes, he tweaked the formation slightly, but the message was that he was looking to build a solid foundation and then work from that.

Against Villa it was slightly different, but for 70 minutes or so the game remained level, so the final result whilst deserved by Villa didn't reflect the mindset change made in that game.

This game saw us build on the foundations made, keep things simple and then everyone knows their job.

We matched the Hammers in all departments, it was a fairly even game throughout, in fact we could easily have gone in at the break in front, Sulemana rattling the bar and Kyle Walker Peters putting a decent chance just wide of the post.

We looked a team again.

However the second half had barely got under way when the home side took the lead, we got caught on the break and it was 1-0 with a large chunk of the away support still on the concourse.

Under Juric this might have broken our fragile confidence and spirit, but we stuck to the task in hand and kept going, we weathered a brief storm after the goal and started to impose ourselves.

As the legs tired, the substitutions were focused and not just scattergun as under Juric, Cameron Archer coming on for Tall Paul was a good change and Tyler Dibling for Sulemana was a good change, the youngster had legs and although things weren't quite working for him, it offered us a different dimension.

With 5 minutes to go came the final changes, Welington for Manning and Ross Stewart for Harwood-Bellis showed that Simon Rusk was not sitting back and happy with a narrow defeat, he did something different to try and change the game, push West Ham onto the back foot.

This paid dividends in the 3rd minute of injury time when the ball fell to Lesley Ugochukwu who slammed the ball home to send the Saints supporters behind the goal wild.

A few minutes later and the game was over and a point gained, Saints fans celebrated, not with the ironic "Championship" chants as two weeks earlier when we went down at Tottenham, but with just plain and simple joy, not just for the equaliser, but also for the fact that it felt something had changed !

It's hard to pinpoint, but there was a feeling of relief, the last 8 months have felt like a runaway train, no one was in charge and steering it, this game felt different, it felt like a team performance, it felt like all the players knew their job and did it, it felt like we had leadership and organisation.

Of course it is too little too late now for this season, but it should give us some confidence for next season.

The Southampton supporters were magnificent, funnily enough although the ticket allocation had sold out, it didn't feel full, it felt like a few hundred fans had bought tickets but had not bothered turning up, that is their choice but they missed a rare event this season, a game where we didn't lose.

That has only happened 7 times in the Premier League this season, Russell Martin only managed to avoid defeat in the league on 3 occasions, Ivan Juric managed it just twice, Simon Rusk has now done it two times out of only 3 games, there is a good reason for that, perhaps not enough to suggest he should get the job on a permanent basis, at least not just yet, but a good sign that this squad is not as bad as some would make out, it just needed to be freed from that draconic possession football game and actually have some calm leadership.

At the end we celebrated like we had won the cup, but we weren't celebrating a point, we weren't celebrating failure, we were celebrating what will hopefully be the start of a new era, that the mistakes of the past can't be changed, but they are gone, we are now moving forward again, albeit it slowly but definitely forward.

A few of the players in this performance won't be hear next season, but the bulk of them will be and that is a good foundation to build on, we needed something positive and at West Ham we got it for perhaps the first time this season.

All Photos Via Reuters

Mattsgrandad added 11:10 - Apr 21 I think the main difference on Saturday was better, sharper passing. A poor goal conceded but the midfield actually gelling with lesley and Fernandes again excellent and Downes having possibly his best game this season. I think Sulimana would be better playing down the middle running at defenders with more room. Overall this could be the start of something if we keep it simple and play to strengths and not frustrating tactics.

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Jellybaby added 11:21 - Apr 21 Is this the Saints resurrection on Easter weekend?! It felt like something different and better albeit against a poor West Ham team lead by a manager that a lot of Saints fans were clamouring for. I watched on TV and the Saints fans were amazing, massive credit to the club - stoic support in a calamitous season of the nth degree!
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underweststand added 11:24 - Apr 21 (basically).. the same squad but Simon Rusk finally banished that infamous Russell Martin formation with an attacking performance as good as anything we've seen all season and with Sulemana unlucky not to get on the scoresheet by HT. A lot of good displays in different areas, and a determination not to surrender after going down so early after the break and getting a result at the death. I almost made Downes my MoM with his best display in months, (and a chance to show WHam what they missed when they let him go). A first Prem. goal from Lesley Ugochukwa who might have scored our Goal of the season, (especially as there have been so few to choose from) and he would be a good buy for next season - if we could find the cash ?. A good word for those travelling fans who haven't totally deserted the team despite all those poor results in (perhaps) the most horrendous season we've had in many a year.

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stmichael added 11:30 - Apr 21 The passing game is not draconic it is modern and progressive and clearly our fans are nowhere near ready for it. We much prefer the good old fashioned 4-4-2 which died with the 1966 World Cup and has been replaced by the Spanish style which wins world cups European championships and champions leagues. For some reason we cannot embrace it which is why England despite often having the best players have won nothing for nearly 60 years. On a lesser stage our fans couldn’t embrace it either instead finding it “boring”!! We are “draconic” Nick not the style of play..

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JoeEgg added 11:34 - Apr 21 So we've discovered a team in West Ham who have as many problems as we have. Okay it was a better performance by Saints but no recovery will be anywhere near complete until we find or buy some forwards who can actually score gaols.
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Monksway added 12:52 - Apr 21 Call me a cynic but this is a team of individuals desperate to prove they are better than their abject performances so far. The bulk of the team won't be here next year. Ramsdale, THB, Fernandes, Dibling will help balance the books. KWP, Stephens and Lesley are out of contract. Bednarek, Kamaldeen, Downes, Onuachu and Archer are all hoping for moves or loans. Rusk will be hoping for a lower league manager's job. No problem with the performance but let's no kid ourselves that they are committed to being the spine of the championship side next year.

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Bowlercow added 13:31 - Apr 21 Sorry St Michael I intended to give you a thumbs up but cocked it up At least we didn't concede and collapse as we have so often this season.It was a dogged performance by a squad that must be absolutely mental destroyed Rusk is obviously more in tune with our players than Juric ever was I have always believed that the squad as a whole were better than the results they got.It doesn't matter if you are outplayed or cheated out of something The only stat that matters is goals scored.We have often lost games because of our style of play but Rusk has shown us we do have a PL squad that has lacked leadership

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Colburn added 14:54 - Apr 21 Jack Stephens was brilliant
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Block8 added 16:10 - Apr 21 I'm not sorry St Michael as I gave you a thumbs down and as a Saints fan home & away my experience of it isn't very pleasing! The passing game played with pace (Arsenal) works very well but look who's walking the league? Liverpool don't fanny about and move the ball forward with pace as do Newcastle and Forest even City are not adverse to a long ball. Whilst I really don't have a problem with a passing style of football and would think most Saints fans feel the same but unless it's progressive it really is boring! You are obviously either a die hard passing game fan or you never attended many Russel Martin games! Any way a better feeling Saturday than for a fair amount of time and Rusk is playing a style that suits this squad, we are overloaded with defenders, desperate to pass 11 points hence the way we play.

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KilkennySaint added 22:49 - Apr 21 If the bulk of this team is here next season i will be concerned, i cant see how this is a good foundation to build on. It shows SR is still not learning. This team has been involved in two relegations in the past three seasons. They went down this season without a fight and made the club a laughing stock. I think there is maybe ten players (including the loaned out) that are worth keeping and building a team that can, grow, develop and be ready if we return to the premier league. We know most this team aren't premier league quality. SR need to he ruthless this summer, they weren't last and it cost us big time.

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underweststand added 07:51 - Apr 22 I agree (Block 8) that the passing game presents problems for lesser teams, but our squad is the product of 5 managerial changes (all who used different formations) and to be fair barely a handful of them are even close to mediocre Prem. standard. Maybe that formation works for Arsenal but look at their squad and financial backing.! Perhaps if our lads had played with Rusk's formation (and attitude) earlier in the season, we might have avoided the drop, but this squad has done its time, and the new manager will likely start next season with a load of new names and we'll be lucky to save the best.

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IanRC added 14:51 - Apr 22 Jack Stephens cost us two goals last week, I was surprised to see him start. That said a much better team performance this week. Would really like to see what Stewart could do with Sulemana but they are never on the pitch together sadly. Support was fantastic even the commentators noted it.
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