Under-fire Southampton manager Nigel Adkins found himself with something to celebrate after his side made short work of relegation rivals Queen’s Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
A 3-1 victory, their first of the season away from home, came courtesy of goals from Rickie Lambert, Jason Puncheon and an Anton Ferdinand own goal as Saints belied their lowly league position and left QPR firmly anchored to the foot of the table without a win in 13 matches.
A relieved Adkins said the hard work had paid off.
“We had a good defensive shape about ourselves and we know we can score goals – we scored another three away from home – and there’s a confidence growing about us all the time amongst the players that we’ve got,” he said.
“When you look at how the players have performed and how they perform every day in training they are having a right good go.”
He added: “At Southampton everyone is together as one, everyone is working hard. We know we’re in a situation at the wrong end of the table but we’ve come a long way in a short space of time.”
But things were not so rosy for his opposite number, Mark Hughes, who faces an uncertain future as QPR owner Tony Fernandes considers his fate.
After the game, Hughes rejected calls for him to step down, but acknowledged the fans’ anger.
“The fans are well within their rights to criticise me. I can understand the reaction, it was exactly my reaction to that performance,” he said.
“I don’t run away from situations or challenges. I came into this with my eyes wide open and it’s my intention to see it through.
“It was a huge challenge in January when I took it. There weren’t too many people queuing up when I decided it was the right role for me.
“The team totally underperformed and they have held their hands up and accepted that. Maybe it’s a watershed moment because we can’t get any lower.”
Breathing space for Adkins as Saints win away at last
