The return of Ryan Bertrand this week has been the key to two wins that have suddenly made this season a much better place.
With all due respect to Matt Targett who has done a sterling job filling in for Ryan Bertrand and does not deserve some of the comments aimed at him by some supporters, the return of Bertrand to the back four was always going to be crucial.
Looking back it is easy to see why we have conceded goals, it hasn't been because we have sold players its been firstly because of a lack of a commanding presence, that hole has now been filled by Virgil Van Dijk and secondly a lack of pace.
Last season we had the pace of both Ryan Bertrand and Nathaniel Clyne to get us out of trouble and this season we have had neither until this week and the return of the former Chelsea full back from injury.
Indeed the game on Saturday was the first time all season that Ronald Koeman has been able to field his first choice back four, even against United the week previously only two out of the four that played against the Swans were present and the difference showed.
But Bertrand is probably the key player in the defence this season because of his pace, we have missed that as goals in the opening two games showed, Bertrand may well have got us out of trouble with his pace and that might have meant two possibly three more points and this emphasises how close we are to getting back to last season's form, the margins are so tight in the Premier league these days.
But it is not only defending that Bertrand's pace can help us but going forward as well and that showed on Saturday, put simply we are now set up better as a side in all departments and Bertrand along with Van Dijk will see Ronald Koeman with the selection options he wants, not to mention the return of Jordy Clasie.
But what the opening games have proved is that it is a squad game and it is testimony as to how much Saints have come on that we have been able to absorb so many key players being missing over the start of this season and still sit in tenth place in the league.