Southampton – 20th

After a dismal campaign, Southampton were relegated for the first time since 2005. Three managers occupied the hot-seat, but neither Ralph Hasenhuttl, Nathan Jones or Ruben Selles could turn the tide. The Saints were in the drop zone from November onwards and there was an air of inevitability about relegation throughout the season.

The Saints haven’t had many success stories this season but they did complete a double over Chelsea for the first time since 1993. The victory at Stamford Bridge back in February gave supporters hope Ruben Selles could guide Southampton to safety.

Nathan Jones replaced Ralph Hasenhüttl back in November but was unable to change the Saints’ fortunes. Despite self-proclaiming himself one of the best managers in Europe, Jones lost nine of his 14 matches in charge and was promptly sacked making him Southampton’s shortest-serving boss in the Premier League era.

With nine goals and four assists, James Ward Prowse was once again Southampton’s standout player this season. The Saints’ captain featured more than any other player and still managed to showcase his playmaking quality in a side struggling at the bottom of the table.

In his first game as caretaker manager, Ruben Selles managed to galvanize his Southampton squad and lead them to a shock victory at Stamford Bridge. A sensational James Ward-Prowse free-kick was the difference between the two sides and the Saints hoped this victory would kick-start an attempt to avoid the drop.

The match started well for the Saints. Charly Alcaraz scored early and Wolves went down to 10-men when Lemina was dismissed in the 27^th minute. However, a comical own goal and a late João Gomes strike meant the visitors took all three points. The defeat left Southampton four points from safety and marked the end for manager Nathan Jones.

With new boss Russell Martin at the helm, Saints’ supporters can expect a move away from their high-pressing style of football to a more possession-focused approach. The Saints had the youngest side in the Premier League last season and many may well flourish in the Championship and guide Southampton back to the top flight.

Attention now turns to next season in the Premier League kicking off on August 12, and you can already find plenty of Outright markets at PokerStars Sports.

Looking for more results and stats from the 2022-23 season? Check out older Southampton match reports here.