Jason Dodd: Southampton must not lose to Brighton

With 30 points from as many games, Saints are only one better off than at the same stage of the 1998-99 season, which was followed by five games without a win during a disastrous April.

Thankfully, Saints won their last three games and secured their Premier League status on the final day.

Dodd fears a defeat at FA Cup semi-finalists Brighton could lead to a similarly nervy run-in.

“It’s been tough, they’ve had some good results but aren’t pulling away so the game on Saturday is a defining moment in the season,” he said.

“I’m not bothered about whether they play entertaining football. I’m bothered about a few wins on the board and making sure we stay up. That’s the priority.

“If they lose at the Amex it’s going to be a tough last six or seven with Liverpool coming up afterwards.

“If they get a point it’s a good point - they must not lose.

“There are a good few teams in the fight but on paper I’m looking at Cardiff as the one [to go down with Fulham and Huddersfield] as they’ve got a tougher run-in than Southampton.”

Dodd has been in the stands at St Mary’s on a few occasions this season.

“The standard of the Premier League is so high now and it’s been tough but we’ve played really well at times against the so-called top eight,” continued Dodd.

“Ralph Hasenhuttl’s added stability but I imagine he would have thought they’d have pushed on a little bit further.

“Managing a club in a dogfight is probably adding to his coaching style in terms of how he works and sets his team up to play.

“But it’s really difficult to judge him now because there’s still a lot of work to do.

“Come the end of the season, hopefully he’ll look back on a great experience and then push the club forward in the Premier League.”

After playing 416 matches for Saints, Dodd had a brief spell at Brighton when the club was still at the Withdean Stadium.

“Brighton are similar to us, they’re a good Premier League side that I didn’t expect to be in the position they’re in,” he continued.

“It’s a bit new to them to be in a dogfight but Chris Hughton’s fantastic.

“He’s a proper players’ manager, he’s done a wonderful job there.

“I like the way he tries to make them play but their priority is the Saints game.

“If they win that it gives them a massive cushion to go on and finish the season on a bit of a high.

“But it will be interesting to see if they’ve got the mentality to get themselves out of the trouble they’re in.

“Like Southampton, they’ve certainly got the players, but they’re not firing on all cylinders.”

After leaving Brighton, Dodd played for and then managed Eastleigh in 2006/07 before returning to St Mary’s for brief spells as first-team coach under George Burley and then as joint caretaker-manager alongside John Gorman 11 years ago.

John Gorman and Jason Dodd were Saints' caretaker managers 11  years ago

He returned for five years as academy director/chief coach, with Paul Williams as his assistant, in 2009.

Their protégé’s included Callum Slattery, Sam Gallagher, Harrison Reed and Jake Hesketh, who are on loan at Blackburn Rovers and MK Dons respectively.

“We had really good boys who still have the potential to break through,” said Dodd.

“Willo did a lot of work with Slatts, we saw the potential in him and he was certainly one of those we thought would progress.

“It’s about getting results in the world’s top league and that makes it tougher for them to get in the team.

“But I like it that Harry wants to play, going to Blackburn will have opened his eyes a little and improved his game.

“I’m assuming he’s aiming to come back to try and force his way into the first team.

“Jakey also has potential and the MK Dons manager, Paul Tisdale, is a good friend of mine who likes to play.”

Coaching remains Dodd’s passion.

He is now head of football at Winchester College, where he was first invited to coach by Lew Chatterley, Saints’ youth development officer and first-team coach during the 1990s.

“Lew was working up here and said ‘come and do some sessions’. He was great for me at the football club and has been great for me at Winchester.

“He’s someone I know I can chat to and get advice on how things work at the school.

“I’m enjoying what I’m doing and am also doing some coaching for Paul Gover, the school’s cricket professional who played for Havant and who I played with for Flamingos back in the day. I help with the golf as well, it’s a great place to work.”

Dodd also runs his own football coaching company, the Proco Football Foundation, based at The Hub in Eastleigh. “Dealing with adults is a lot easier than kids but I really enjoy it,” he laughs.

“Enjoyment is key. We have teams in the Junior Premier League but anyone who wants to play is welcome at our sessions.”