Are Saints Managers Lucky In Their First Game ?
Monday, 13th Sep 2010 10:32

Lets have a look at how our permanent managers have fared in the league since Ted Bates.

Ted Bates took over as Saints boss in September 1955 with five games already gone, his debut as manager came in an away game at Newport County where the side lost 1-0 an away defeat at Aldershot followed before a 3-3 draw in Bates's first home game again with Newport, it would be the fourth game in charge before Ted got his first win a 3-1 defeat of Crystal Palace..

It would be nearly two decades before a new manager had to make his bow, Lawrie McMenemy arrived in the summer of 1973 as team manager designate, although in truth he was manager in all but name, his first game under this role wwas a 1-1 draw at QPR followed by a 1-0 away win at newcastle, but it would be november before he had the designate removed from the sign on the door and his first game as manager proper saw a 1-1 home draw with Spurs, followed by a 4-0 defeat at Syamford bridge and then in his third game a 2-0 home win against Everton.

1985/86 saw Chris Nicholl take over the helm and a 1-1 opener at the Dell against Newcastle, but it would be the seventh league game before Nicholl's first win a 3-0 drubbing of Man City at home.

Ian Branfoot was next up in the summer of 1991 and Spurs ruined his day with a 3-2 win at the Dell on the opening day of the season, but it would only be the third game before his first win with Sheffield United beaten 2-0.

Alan Ball arrived in January 1994 and had to travel to St James Park to meet high flying Newcastle, redevelopement of the ground meant that Saints recieved no tickets for the game, but it was beamed back live to the Hulse Road social club where around 500 fans watched it on two big screens a late Le tiss goal gave Alan Ball a winning start.

Opening day of 95/96 season saw Dave Merrington in the hot seat, but in the other dug out was Brian Clough and he ruined the day with a 4-3 win although Le God netted a hat trick, strangely almost half of what would be his meagre 7 goals that season. Merrington's first win would come against Newcastle at the Dell in the fourth game 1-0 with a Jim Magilton goal.

Exactly a year later in 1996, Chelsea were the visitors for a Sunday sky game for the first game of the season and the first for Graeme Souness, it would be a decent 0-0 draw, but Souey would have to wait for the 8th league outing and the visit of Middlesbrough for his first win 4-0.

Another year on, although not to the exact day this time and it was another year another boss, Dave Jones took his seat for the visit of Bolton, who went home with all three points after a 1-0 win, Jones would open his winning account in his fourth game beating Crystal Palace 1-0 at the Dell.

Glenn Hoddle took over in February 2000 and joined Ball as an debut day winner, West ham visited and were sent packing 2-1, although it took an 86th minute own goal to complete the job.

Was Stuart Gray's first game as manager in April 2000 or August that is the question, as he was first temporary manager and then made permanent, in the temporary role he lost 3-0 to Ipswich at the Dell and won his eigth game against Man Utd in the penultimate game ever at the Dell, as permanent at the start of the following season, he lost 2-0 at Leeds, but won his fourth game at Bolton 1-0.

Gordon Strachan arrived next, he was in place for the home game against Ipswich a 3-3 draw, but technically wasnt picking the team etc, his true first outing was a 2-1 defeat at Fulham and itwould be another 3 games before he won his first match, 1-0 at hometo Charlton, Marian Pahars scoring in what was the first ever league win at St Mary's.

The managers would come thick and fast after Strachan left and next up was Paul Sturrock who beat Liverpool 2-0 at SMS in his first game, he would of course go in the same manner as Pardew, early in the season after winning a game, Steve Wigley took over and lost at home to Bolton, and indeed it would be his 11th game before he opened his account with a 2-1 home win against Pompey the team his successor had ironically just left.

Harry Redknapp started with a game at home to Middlesbrough and with 89 minutes on the clocjk it looked like he had won it as Saints led 2-0, but by the time the final whistle blew it was 2-2 and he had to wait for his 8th game at home to liverpool to record his first league win.

Another year on and it was George Burley's turn, starting off with a 3-0 Boxing Day defeat at Watford, he would record three straight defeats before a last minute winner against Brighton in the fourth game gave him victory.

Nigel Pearson's reign in February 2008 saw a home defeat to Plymouth and it would be his sixth game against fellow strugglers Leicester before his first win, this time 1-0, a result that ironically affected him as he would leave Saints and join Leicester, this result tipped the scales at the end of the season and meant that the Foxes went down instead of us.

Jan Poortvliet would be next, an away defeat at Cardiff was his first match in charge, but he would win his third game a stormer at Derby County where the 1-0 scoreline didnt reflect just how well Saints had played.

Poortvliet left in what was becoming a tradition, after a win and Mark Wotte took over, winning not only his first game 1-0 against Cardiff, but his second away to Ipswich giving real belief that we could stay up, however he would only win two more out of the next 16.

So to Alan Pardew, Millwall at home although not a win, was seen as a good result for a man who had barely been in the job a fortnight, but it would take him 8 games to win one, two Rickie Lambert penalties doing the trick.

So to Nigel Adkins, history shows a mixed bag for our managers and first wins, since Ted Bates only four have managed to win their first game Ball, Hoddle, Sturrock & Wotte and all only had brief stays here and left in controversial circumstances of one form or another, so perhaps Nigel will feel that winning his first game might not be so good an idea after all !

Photo: Action Images

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