October and the majority of November proved to be Southampton’s worst part of the 2019/20 season and sparked a change of thought from Ralph Hasenhuttl.
In our look at the opening two months of the campaign, we looked back on some mixed results that showed some promising signs for Saints.
Little did they know, though, that October’s league action would end with a record breaking defeat.
Results and performances provided key indicators that things were starting to go downhill very quickly.
A 4-1 home defeat to Chelsea saw Saints 3-0 well-beaten as the Blues tore their defence apart, but a point at Wolves was then considered a good response after the second international break of the campaign.
Six days later though, Saints experienced an evening that they would either force them down or force a response.
Leicester City were flying at the top of the table and playing some of the best football in the top-flight under Brendan Rodgers, but no one could have seen what was coming.
A wet and windy evening couldn’t have started much worse for the hosts at St Mary’s as went 3-0 down and had Ryan Bertrand sent off in the first 20 minutes, and the visiting Foxes went on to extend their lead to five by half-time.
Many Saints players looked stunned by what was happening and they seemed completely unable to halt wave after wave of attacks towards their own goal.
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This was also the feeling in the stands and continued to be as the onslaught went on into the second-half – four more Leicester goals confirming Saints’ biggest ever loss in their 135 year history.
It was alright though, two nice easy games arrived soon after to put things right – a league and cup double away at Manchester City.
In fact, Saints defended well in both fixtures and restored some pride – leading the league match until the 70th minute when City equalised and then went on to win 2-1.
Returning home provided an ideal opportunity to pick up a much-needed result against a struggling Everton side the following weekend.
Perhaps more importantly overall, it was the first match where Ralph Hasenhuttl returned to his 4-2-2-2 system that would eventually serve his side so well.
The meeting with the Toffees didn’t go to plan and the Saints supporters were visibly frustrated at the final whistle after witnessing a sixth loss in seven games in all competitions.
Another international break straight after this match gave a significant time for recovery, assessment and a return to doing the basics well though, and there were very positive signs as Saints returned to action away at Arsenal.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men took control of the game with a toxic atmosphere emerging between the Gunners fans and then manager Unai Emery, and they were very unlucky not to come away with the three points.
Danny Ings opened the scoring in typically predatory style, but Alexandre Lacazette drew the hosts level.
However, Saints continued to push forward and deservedly took the lead late on as James Ward-Prowse found the net. Heroic defending was undone by poor finishing as more chances came and went though, and Arsenal snatched a point as Lacazette confirmed his brace in stoppage-time.
Saints fans saw a much better team display on that day, and this really gave them a hint at what was to come over Christmas and New Year.