In the first of our Great Escapes series, Club historian Dave Juson charts the course of Saints many sucessful attempts at escapology...
'The Great Escape' has become a well-worn cliché among the faithful of late. Surely, there must be other films with evocative musical scores that will serve as metaphors for near relegation experiences?!
Until somebody thinks of one, bear in mind that Saints' current predicament is unusual - omitting Saints three actual relegations they have, in 114 years of league football, flirted with demotion just six times (not including two of the three relegations) on the last day of the season.
Although the first serious dalliance was in 1912 there have been some more recent classics as Southampton successfully battled against relegation from the Premiership. Here follows the first of five classic 'Great Escapes'...
 Saints players and fans alike celebrate in 1994 |
1993-94 Season
With Saints 20th in the Premiership, it came as no surprise that Lawrie McMenemy's return to the Dell as a director in December 1993 was quickly followed by the departure of manager Ian Branfoot. The appointment of Alan Ball as Branfoot's replacement was welcomed in Southampton, but derided widely in the national media.
Matthew Le Tissier was immediately deployed in the heart of the team. Form improved considerably, but Saints couldn't quite pull themselves free of the relegation struggle.
As the last game of the season, at Upton Park, kicked off, Saints were 17th with 42 points; followed by Ipswich and Sheffield United, also on 42 points; Everton with 41; Oldham with 39 and Swindon doomed. A win was vital!
Saints were a goal down after half an hour, but Matty levelled with one of his imperious free-kicks just before half time. Seven minutes after the interval Neil Maddison headed home a fine Le Tissier cross: 2-1.
Meanwhile, it was ears to wireless time for travelling fans and stay-at-homes alike. With Everton 2-0 down at home to Wimbledon, Saints would be safe with a draw - a result which looked all the more likely after Martin Allen's equaliser.
Then Iain Dowie went down in the box...Penalty! Matty converted: 3-2! Then Everton pulled back to 2-2...West Ham fans invaded the pitch. The players returned to the dressing rooms. Everton won 3-2. Ipswich drew. Oldham drew. What was happening?!
Then came the tidings that Sheffield United had lost to a last minute goal at Chelsea. When the game restarted it was in the knowledge that Saints would need to lose by three goals to drop below the Blades. Ken Monkou promptly headed the ball past Dave Beasant for an own-goal: 3-3!
Still, nothing could stop the party now: altogether now: dut, dut; da-da-da-dut-dut …
