Hughes defiant as he battles for his future at Saints

MORE bullish than the centre of a dartboard, Mark Hughes prepared for potentially his last stand claiming: “I couldn’t have done any more.”

One win in 11 games, garnished with just seven goals, has left manager Hughes staring down the barrel at Southampton and his job is even more vulnerable after vice-chairman Les Reed – a key boardroom ally – was axed on Thursday.

Bristling with defiance, much as he did as a player, Hughes says he feels disappointment but no guilt over Reed’s sacking.

But if Saints fail to beat Watford, they will complete a calendar year with just one home win – against Bournemouth in April – in the Premier League. If another letdown at St Mary’s leaves him in the firing line, Hughes could make unwanted history as the first manager sacked by two Premier League clubs in the same calendar year after he was axed by Stoke in January.

Southampton’s strike-rate has been so barren that Hughes could hand 18-year-old

Michael Obafemi his first start.

Hughes insists he had no idea that Reed (right) was about to walk the plank, adding: “I don’t know if guilt is the right word – everybody feels disappointed that it’s come to this point for Les because he’s done a huge job here and everyone recognises that.

“You have to look at yourself. I’d have to say, since I’ve come here, I don’t feel I could have done any more. I’m honest in saying that.

“Things will go against you at times – that’s the nature of sport. Sometimes you need that little bit of luck at the right times in games, which we haven’t had.

“But in terms of preparation and readying the team for Premier League games, I don’t think I could have done any more.”

Six months since he was venerated as a hero after masterminding Saints’ win at Swansea in the relegation battle’s decisive sixpointer, Hughes is under pressure after just 11 games of another struggle for survival. Danny Ings’ penalty in last Sunday’s 6-1 thrashing at Manchester City ended Saints’ 505-minute goal drought and under Hughes, Saints have won as many cup ties (three out of four) as Premier League games (three out of 19).

When he was sacked by Stoke, after their FA Cup defeat at Coventry, Hughes had won two and lost eight of their last 13 games. At QPR in 2012, he had presided over just four points from a possible 36 when the axe fell.

But he insists the dark skies cast by Reed’s sacking will be a passing shower at St Mary’s, saying: “I don’t think it’s as bleak as you’re painting.

“We need to win games – we’ll take that, there will be extra pressure on us and we’ll have to deal with it.

“It’s more frustration and anger than anxiety and apprehension that we’re feeling. It’s not a dire situation, not like this time last year. It’s nowhere near as serious.

“We’re not in the bottom three, we’re in a better position than when I walked into the club, but clearly it’s a situation we want to turn around and that’s our intention.

“If it feels like a cup final, maybe we want it to be like that – then we’ll have that edge to our game that it’s always important to have.

“Clearly our home form has been holding us back and putting us under pressure. It’s gone on for too long.”

Obafemi, called into the Republic of Ireland squad, could be Saints’ wild card after Hughes admitted: “I’ve tried all the guys up top. They’ve all had good opportunities.

“When you have a guy with the innocence of youth, sometimes that can allow him to play with a bit more freedom.”