If Saints can beat the Baggies and virtually ensure safety from relegation in the process, then they will have come the full circle since a dire November night at the Hawthorns.
After Saints lost 2-0 against West Bromwich Albion in a televised game at the Hawthorns on November 3rd last year it was perhaps the low point of the season and not many gave much hope for our survival in the Premier league at that point, be they the bookies, television pundits or even Saints fans themselves, the stark reality of the Premier League had hit home and after this 10th game of the season, well over a 1/4 of it and approaching a 1/3, we only had 4 points to our name.
But it wasnt just the low points total, it just didnt seem to be a Saints team out there, the spirit was gone and not only did rumours persist that the manager wasnt in complete control of team selections, but that same rumour mill suggested that he was about to be sacked. This was rubbished in a lot of quarters with Adkins still enjoying god like status and many supporters on message boards indignant with rage that anyone could think that the Chairman and manager were at loggerheads, perhaps history now shows us they were.
But this defeat seemed to be breaking point for Adkins himself, he seemed to realise that he was heading for the exit door and had decided if that was the case then he would go down doing things his way, in the subsequent weeks our form changed but Nigel Adkins had passed the point of no return and his days were numbered although most refused to believe that at the time.
The following week saw a home draw to Swansea, on reflection a good point, but then came two straight wins and comprehensive ones at that, suddenly Saints were off the bottom and out of the relegation zone although ironically a home point against Norwich was not only a disapointment in that it was a sloppy goal conceded in a game we dominated, but Villa leapfrogged us to drop us back in the bottom three, but crucially the four game unbeaten run had given us hope that we could survive and more importnantly belief, what Nigel Adkins didnt know though was that he was in his last six weeks of the job and his replacement was already being lined up.
The next half dozen games looked difficult on paper and even harder on grass, but the six points garnered from them were a good haul, to take us into a vital six pointer clash away to Aston Villa, a hard thought win put us ahead of the game, so much so that we had risen to 15th and pulled two points clear of the drop zone, a 2-2 draw at Chelsea where we recovered from two down at half time was seen as a sign of the resurgence under Adkins as it took us another point away from danger and this was perhaps why there was initially so much anger at the way Adkins was treated, make no mistake after a difficult start he had turned things round at this point.
So began the Mauricio Pochettino era at Saints, ushered in with a speed that shocked all of the football world, in truth it was a bit of a slow start for the Argentinian, but he grew into the job and carried on where Adkins had left off winning some games that will be long remembered by the supporters.
So here we are 24 games later since that defeat at Albion, two dozen games that have seen 35 points gained and more off the field drama than most clubs see in five times that number, but that is Southampton FC.
Those 24 games have seen ironicall an equal split between both managers, Nigel Adkins gaining 18 points from his dozen games and Mauricio Pochettino only one less with 17 points, this perhaps emphasises the role played by both, it has been the case of late to perhaps downplay Adkins achievements this season and trumpet Pochettino as the saviour of the season, but these statistics show that both men are on an equal footing, for various reasons both had different problems to contend with, but the end result is the same since we last met West Brom
Adkins Played 12, won 4, drew 6 lost 2. Goals For 16. Against 12
Pochettino Played 12, won 4, drew 5, lost 3. Goals For 17 Against 14.
Surprisingly almost identical stats, although one myth is debunked and that is that the defence has improved drastically, although it has to be said the bulk of the goals in the Pochettino era came in the first half of his reign.
But the sum total is that in those 24 games we have pulled things round and what looked like certain relegation on that cold night back in November now sees a different proposition for the Baggies to come up against than they did that night, but as shown we have two men to thank for that Nigel Adkins and Mauriccio Pochettino.