Nigel Adkins said the hard work had paid off after Saints grabbed a precious three points at QPR.

Rickie Lambert, Jason Puncheon and an Anton Ferdinand own goal earned Saints their first away win back in the Premier League as they defeated QPR 3-1 at Loftus Road.

The win lifted the pressure off of Adkins and gives the players a massive shot in confidence ahead of back-to-back home matches against Newcastle and Norwich.

“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,” said Adkins.

“When you look at how the players have performed and how they perform every day in training they are having a right good go.

“Look at the supporters, they are having a right good go.

“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.”