Che Adams nods home to earn the Saints bragging rights over local rivals Bournemouth

He survived horrible strings of results. He survived the dismissal of his staff in the back room. He survived the 9-0 loss – twice. Somehow Ralph Hasenhuttl seems to forever find a way to extend his stay.

This victory was just the right time and came at a time when Hasenhuttl’s neck was practically prepared for the guillotine. Perhaps these three points will ensure that he survives the chop for now.

Southampton’s new owners, Sport Republic, are reportedly looking for potential replacements, if and when they decide to move in a different direction from Hasenhuttl.

This win, which will take them out of the bottom three of the Premier League, will allay their concerns.

Che Adams’ header in the first half finished it off. Bournemouth tried their best to make a comeback, as they have against Leicester and Nottingham Forest, but it is a first loss for caretaker Gary O’Neil.

Hasenhuttl has proven his tactical prowess against the bigger teams, such as how Southampton didn’t lose at home or away to Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham last season.

But the Austrian has a habit of losing to lesser opponents, especially the newly promoted clubs.

Not this time, playing Southampton standing up for their boss.

O’Neil had gone unbeaten in his first six games, but in the ninth minute Bournemouth trailed 1-0.

A cross from Romain Perraud found Adams, who sipped in front of Adam Smith and sent a header into the far corner.

Bournemouth almost scored the leveler in the 30th minute when Philip Billing grabbed the ball 25 yards from goal and gave it a try. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu shot over and pushed wide.

In the 35th minute, a foul on Marcus Tavernier by Duje Caleta-Car Bournemouth won a free kick from 20 yards. Southampton’s set-piece specialist James Ward-Prowse would like to see his chances on the other side. Lewis Cook stepped up, but shot it over the bar.

Southampton had conceded at least once in each of their last 19 Premier League away games, but were halfway through their first out of the season at halftime.

You can imagine that O’Neil’s team discussion at halftime will have mentioned their last home game. Leicester had also taken an early lead, but Bournemouth scored twice in the second half to win 2-1.

At the start of the second half, Marcos Senesi should have buried a free header from a corner. Bournemouth’s big boy from behind knew it too. His connection was not clean and the ball flew wide.

The visitors sat deeper and deeper and made for an exciting last 20 minutes. “Calm down,” Hasenhuttl shouted from his technical room to his players, feeling their nerves.

It was Bournemouth’s attack on Southampton’s defences, with Hasenhuttl’s men taking every opportunity to kill a few seconds.

Who can blame them? This was a team that had lost 15 of their last 22 Premier League matches. Of course they were desperate for this win.

In the 74th minute, Bournemouth’s Junior Stanislas crossed the ball, but it was stopped by Mohammed Salisu’s arm. Cue screams for a penalty. VAR Peter Bankes studied it from Stockley Park and decided that Salisu’s arm was behind his back and not in an unnatural position.

That infuriated Bournemouth as they kept pushing for their late leveler. It wasn’t to be and Hasenhuttl got the win he needed, given the talk of what would have happened if he lost.