Jones sees a glimmer of hope

AN UNCERTAIN Nathan Jones walked over to the away end shortly after the full-time whistle. Those fans had chanted ‘Nathan Jones, your football is s***’ in the first half when Southampton were trailing. Yet now they were celebrating. Jones applauded but as the players came over he turned around, walked away and let his team have their moment.

It felt like an afternoon that could prove to be a turning point. Saints went into the tie with Jones losing each of his first four top-flight games. It was their first win against a Premier League side since October. While it has no effect on the table, where they are rock bottom, they celebrated as one as the rain fell. There is now a glimmer of hope.

‘I don’t know what type of reception I’m going to get when I go over there,’ said Jones. ‘So I went over there to make sure. The other night (after defeat by Nottingham Forest) I went around clapping everyone because I put myself out there. I take full responsibility for everything. I don’t shy away from challenges. ‘So when I went over and got a good reception, I was very pleased. But then it was the players’ turn and I wanted to make sure that I didn’t over-celebrate because it’s one win,’ he added. The Saints signed Croatian winger Mislav Orsic from Dinamo Zagreb and Jones hinted at more signings. ‘There won’t be 10, but if we can get three or four real quality additions that improve us, then that’s what we want,’ he said.