Southampton were beaten at Manchester City, as most people expected.
They are bottom of the Premier League, with a single point from their first nine games of the season.
Manager Russell Martin is under pressure, despite guiding Saints back to the top flight only five months ago.
But a strange thing happened at Etihad Stadium.
Speaking to the media after Saturday’s match, both managers heaped praise on the beaten team.
It was not so much that they were unlucky to lose. If Erling Haaland had a better day, he would have scored more than just the fifth-minute match-winner.
Manchester City beat Southampton in an open game – not just because they found a way through a blanket defence.
Towards the end of the first half, the visitors had the majority of possession. It was down to 42.3% by the end. As a guide, City’s previous two opponents, Sparta Prague and Wolves, have had 20.1% and 22.4% respectively.
If Southampton are to go down, or Martin is to lose his job, it will be by committing to a gameplan he believes in.
“I took the job [at MK Dons] nearly five years ago, with the club in the League One relegation zone and the chairman saying he didn’t care if they got relegated if he could see something he believed in and could be proud of,” said Martin.
“There have been some moments of real difficulty at MK and Swansea and here, where you get questioned and have to make a big decision.
“But if I end up losing my job at some point, which is inevitable, at least I can say I have stuck to what I want to be, as a person first, then a leader and then as a manager.
“To get to the Premier League and then change would be illogical. I cannot stand on the sidelines watching something I don’t feel connected with or love. I don’t see the point in that.”
That requires Southampton’s players to have courage to take the ball in tight areas, carry on passing when the pressure is at its greatest and not allow poor results or adversity to change that mindset.
