Tonda Eckert hadn't experienced the stinging pain of a defeat in the Championship since January.
Indeed, before watching his Southampton side come unstuck on the opening day of the new second tier season at the hands of an energetic Watford outfit, he had last tasted the cruel bitterness of a defeat in the gruelling division at the very start of 2026, when eventual promotion winners Hull City won 2-1 at St. Mary's.
Coincidentally, on that occasion, it was a sucker punch of two first half goals that gave the Tigers a win on their travels.
On Sunday afternoon, it was the lively hosts who would soar into a two-goal lead, and while Cyle Larin did score a wonderfully taken second half effort, the final scoreline would swing 2-1 in the Hornets' favour.
At the close of the game, Eckert made it clear that the South Coast side is still a work in progress, with a new midfielder a major want when it comes to more incomings joining the building.
It was evident against the Hornets that Eckert and Co. missed a Shea Charles-style figure, with both Cameron Bragg and Flynn Downes having up-and-down afternoons in Hertfordshire.
Southampton's ongoing hunt for a Charles replacement
While Bragg did assist Larin's consolation goal during the much improved second 45 minutes from a Saints perspective, the Scotsman did experience tough patches during the 2-1 defeat.
The 21-year-old would only win 50% of his duels, as Watford's energy never lessened throughout the entire match.
Moreover, Downes, while he was unafraid to get stuck in, offered little going forward, with just one shot registered at the home side's goal, while also failing to complete a single key pass into a dangerous area of the pitch.
Having Charles around centrally at Vicarage Road could well have helped Eckert's men grab an equaliser, as the Northern Irishman always had a moment of magic from somewhere, when his team weren't firing on all cylinders with slick attacking moves.
With the German vocal that a new midfielder is a priority, the bottom of the table dwellers should go all out to try and snap up this ace, before another Championship giant swoops him up.
They should go all out to sign this ace
Jordan James could be the perfect pick-up here to try and give Southampton's midfield some bite that was sorely lacking at points during the slender loss at Vicarage Road.
It might be a tall order to win his signature, as reports suggest he is Wolverhampton Wanderers bound for £10m, but transfer hijacks happen all the time, and if the Saints are insistent on reinforcing their midfield ranks with some exciting fresh blood, James would be the ideal next signing.
Indeed, like Charles, the Birmingham-born battler loves a long-range screamer, with 11 goals scored last season in the Championship with Leicester City, even as the Foxes tumbled down to League One.
Unafraid to dig in and get dirty, too, for his team's cause, with 3.2 duels won on average during the 2023/24 season for Birmingham City, he could offer Eckert something different from the middle of the park.
Whether it's James arriving through the door, or an alternative midfield target, it's clear a new signing centrally is needed, as the opening day performance at Watford was far too sloppy with what Eckert already has at his disposal.
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