SAINTS manager Ralph Hasenhuttl believes the “togetherness” shown during the 2-2 draw with Leeds United is what “we need to stay in the league again”.
His side came from two goals down in the final 20 minutes of their second Premier League contest of the season, but gave themselves little chance to pick up victory.
Hasenhuttl made four substitutes and a change of formation to help inspire his charges to a fightback, with goals from Joe Aribo and Kyle Walker-Peters.
It puts one point on the board this campaign, following a 4-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day – and just one win in 13 to end last season.
“I wasn’t running and sprinting around so you’ll have to ask the players, they can give you a better answer,” Hasenhuttl responded, when asked of the challenge Leeds brought on a baking hot summer’s day.
“For me, it was a demanding game tactically for sure, but this is what we want to see. This is what we get paid for and this is what the fans want to see when they're sitting in the stands.”
He continued: “They want to see a team that is fighting for everything, that is fighting to come back and to maybe turn the table.
“This is what creates an atmosphere and what creates identity and what creates, in the end, the togetherness we need to stay in the league again.”
It was doubly important for Hasenhuttl and Saints to record a positive result, given how the atmosphere could have soured following reports of player dissent midweek.
In his press conference after the match, the Austrian stood defiant on those lines of questioning but conceded a loss Saturday could have been a problem.
“How important it is to get the first points in the first home game? The longer you lose at the start of the season the harder it is,” Hasenhuttl added.
“We showed a reaction today and took a point. We maybe, in the end, could have had three points but it was an important point for us. We know there are tough games coming up but we must be strong again.”
In the Premier League, Saints visit Leicester City up next on Saturday, August 20, before welcoming Manchester United and Chelsea to St Mary’s later this month.
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