"Against top sides you have to absorb lots of pressure. Concentration levels are key. We did that well. We still found ourselves in one or two dangerous moments we could have capitalised on. "We were prepared. If I take last Saturday out of it, more of the same [performances] but we found a little bit more."

Rock bottom and relegated Southampton had looked poised to equal Derby County's season-low tally of 11 points in 2007-08, but the draw moved them to 12 which had their fans at a sun-drenched St Mary's Stadium singing in celebration.