RALPH Hasenhuttl is only the second Saints manager to win his first game at St Mary’s.

And only five other post-war Saints managers have won their first home game in charge.

Of the previous 16 Saints incumbents, Paul Sturrock is the only one to win his 'home debut'.

Mauricio Pellegrino, Ronald Koeman, Mauricio Pochettino, Nigel Adkins and Graeme Souness all began with goalless draws. 

There were score draws for Lawrie McMenemy, Claude Puel, Alan Pardew, Mark Wotte, Jan Poortvliet, Harry Redknapp, and Chris Nicholl.

And the great Ted Bates was among those who lost his first game as Saints boss, along with Mark Hughes, George Burley, Gordon Strachan, Stuart Gray, Dave Jones, Dave Merrington and Ian Branfoot.

Before Hasenhuttl, these were the only Saints managers to win their home debut.

Paul Sturrock

2-0 v Liverpool (March 4th, 2004)

Daily Echo:

Paul Sturrock

Saints made history in Luggy’s home debut as second-half goals from James Beattie and Kevin Phillips secured a first-ever league ‘double’ over Liverpool in the top flight. 

Earlier in the season, Saints won 2-1 at Anfield and you have to go back to 1960/61 in the old Second Division for the last time any Southampton side had achieved this feat. Although delighted with the result, Sturrock was not satisfied with the overall performance of his team, believing some of the team were possibly trying too hard to impress. 

Goalkeeper Antti Niemi was on top form to deny Liverpool on countless occasions, including a second-half penalty save from Michael Owen. 

“We rode our luck,” said Sturrock “We had words at half-time – I thought we were poor. Liverpool were making chances but we were helping them do that. 

“People were trying to convince me they were good footballers too. But it was an enjoyable experience – especially to win a difficult game.”

Beattie’s clinical finish, superbly lofted over Jerzy Dudek into the far corner, gave Saints a 52nd-minute lead, after a fortuitous one-two with Kevin Phillips as Liverpool appealed in vain for offside.

Saints’ second was also tinged with fortune. Phillips let fly from distance, but John Arne Riise deflected the ball over Dudek as he slid across.

Sturrock was replaced by Steve Wigley five months later.

Glenn Hoddle

2-1 v West Ham (February 5th, 2000)

Daily Echo:

Glenn Hoddle at the Dell before his first home game as Saints boss

The former England boss was initially appointed on a temporary basis after Saints chairman Rupert Lowe gave Dave Jones a one-year leave of absence to concentrate on his court case.

Saints director Keith Wiseman told the Daily Echo: I chose Glenn for England [when on the FA’s appointment committee] and again this time.”

There was a delayed kick-off, following a motorway incident, but Marian Pahars got Hoddle’s first game at the Dell off to the perfect start by drilling the opener after four minutes across goal just inside the left post.

Frank Lampard equalised for West Ham midway through the second half.

But in the 86th minute a cross from Jo Tessem was turned past his own goalkeeper, Craig Forrest, by Gary Charles. 

Hoddle said: “We totally dominated and probably didn’t get our just reward in terms of scoring goals.”

Alan Ball

4-2 v Liverpool (January 20th 1994)

Daily Echo: Saints legend: Alan Ball

Alan Ball

‘Bally’ had already been in charge for a couple of away games, a 2-1 win at Newcastle clinched by a stunning Matt Le Tissier free kick, and a 2-1 defeat at Oldham, where Le Tissier had given the visitors the lead by pinging an early left-footer from long range. The great man was in the form of his life and would continue to thrive under Bally, who made the most of the talents at his disposal.

Like Hasenhuttl’s first game, Ball’s Dell debut as Saints boss was a classic televised live by Sky Sports. 

Le Tissier gave Saints the lead from the edge of the box with another sweet strike after just 28 SECONDS after capitalising on a poor clearance. Craig Maskell, on his second debut for the club, netted the second after Iain Dowie headed Le Tissier’s cross back across goal. Le Tissier made it 3-0 at half-time with the first of two penalties.

A handball by ex-Saint Mark Wright allowed Le Tissier to complete his hat-trick and make it 4-0 in the 49th minute. Julian Dicks pulled one back from the spot, following a foul by Ken Monkou on Ian Rush, who scored a late consolation of his own.

Le Tissier is quoted in In That Number saying his first goal that night ‘set the tone for the rest of my time with Bally’ and ‘was one of the nicest strikes I’ve had of a moving ball’.

George Roughton

4-0 v Notts County (March 15, 1952)

A week after losing his first game as Sid Cann’s successor, 2-1 at QPR, George Roughton began his three-and-a-half year spell in the Dell hotseat with this comfortable victory. Jimmy McGowan gave Saints an early lead. Second-half goals from Eric Day, Tom Lowder, who headed in a Ted Bates cross, and Walter Judd followed. 

Bill Dodgin Snr

4-0 v Swansea Town (September 4 1946)

Ted Bates was away with the army but Saints won their first post-war match comfortably, thanks to a hat-trick from Doug McGibbon, who was one of only three players in Bill Dodgin Snr's first Saints team to have played in the 1938-39 season. Bobby Veck scored the other goal, giving Saints a 3-0 half-time lead. McGibbon was soon sold to Fulham for £4,250 after scoring nine goals in 12 games. Dodgin would himself leave for Fulham in 1949, after three successful years in the old division two.