NIGE WATCH 5

Arguably, the highlight of Tuesday evening`s game between Saints and Leicester City was not Stern John`s winning goal, but the antics of new manager Nigel Pearson. He`s got loads of passion and commitment, which is most refreshing and it reached its climax after one particularly lax moment of concentration as the chance for a quick throw-in went begging.

Nigel`s reaction was to hurl his bottle of Lucozade Sport to the ground which resulted in an impressive splash as the bottle made its way towards the touchline. He really does look the part and behaves like it too. Constant encouragement, barking instructions and, at the end of the game which saw his first win as Saints` manager, shaking hands with the players, applauding the supporters and putting an encouraging arm around the shoulders of young Simon Gillett - a promising product of our academy who had only come on from the bench with just two minutes of added time left to play.

Well done, Nige - we like it. But go easy on the Lucozade - after all, we`re trying to stave off administration.

NIGE WATCH 4....

Well, Nige Listen really. Last night, Saints pulled off a remarkable comeback to claim a point in a 2-2 draw at Molineaux, home of Wolverhampton Wanderers. After going a goal behind, Saints were awarded yet another penalty, again converted by Gregory Vignal. Sadly, Vignal was later sent off for some misdemeanour, the details of which remain obscure but which have given rise to an appeal against his dismissal lodged today with the Football Association. So, two minutes to go, down to ten men, Saints fell behind to bring the score to 2-1 to Wolves. And all this after earlier in the game losing midfield playmaker Inigo Idiakez and goalkeeper Kelvin Davies to injuries meaning that respective substitutes Jason Euell and Michael Poke came on to fill the gaps.

Now, until the arrival of Nige, those circumstances would have seen a collective shrug of the shoulders and an acceptance of defeat. But not last night - four minutes into `injury time,` Euell met a Mario Licka corner with a rasping header to bring the scores level. Wolves fans are sick as parrots, Saints fans over the moon, as things like that have never happened since the glory days of Gordon Strachan`s management.

After the game, this time Nigel was able to give his post match interview and, when asked whether he thought there had been any chance of Saints getting anything from the game after Wolves went ahead with two minutes to go, his answer was, "Do you want me to tell the truth....or do you want me to make something up?"

The more I see and hear of him, the more I like the cut of his jib. Next stop - Blackpool.

NIGE WATCH 3.....

Well, a week may be a long time in politics but for the footballers of Southampton FC, the last two weeks must have seemed like a lifetime. Our new manager Nigel Pearson (pictured) has clearly got hold of them, told them their fortunes and left them in no doubt as to what`s expected of them and who`s in charge. Just the kind of leadership we`ve been needing for so long.

Saturday`s 1-1 draw against the promotion chasing tractor boys of Ipswich saw a totally different team to the one which struggled to attain mediocrity under the caledonain tutelage of the recently departed George Burley. There was total commitment, non-stop effort, no little skill and huge encouragement from a 23,000 crowd who liked what they saw.

As for our Nige, well, we saw a track-suited figure alone in the technical area for the whole 90 minutes - cajolling, encouraging, giving clear unequivocal instructions, showing a passionate will to win, kicking buckets over,jumping up and down and using the kind of language that footballers understand, however uncertain that may be in the case of our midfield quartet which comprises a Colombian, a Moroccan, a Spaniard and a Czech. There can be little doubt that Nigel is already endearing himself to the approving onlookers.

Just one problem - by the end of the game, our Nige had shouted himself hoarse and couldn`t do the post match interviews as he had lost his voice. Excellent stuff, Nige - keep this up and we`ll avoid relegation after all - perhaps. Anyway, have these on me - I think you`re going to need them.

STEADY ON, NIGE...

.....we`re not used to a show of passion, commitment and caring. George Burley rarely made it to the `technical area,` never mind barking instructions from the touchline.

Still, Nigel Pearson`s promptings had some effect as Saints clawed their way back from 1-0 down against the 10 men of bottom-of-the-table Scunthorpe to snatch a late equaliser thanks to a mystifying penalty decision by the officials.

Glad to see you got your right leg out of the Lucozade crate, Nige, but something is clearly causing you some pain. Maybe the realisation of the task you`ve taken on?

THE ENFORCER HAS ARRIVED...

Yes, folks, in what might seem like a panic attack, Saints have appointed Nigel Pearson as their new manager in a knee-jerk reaction to the debacle of Saturday`s surrender to Bristol Rovers.

Nige comes with a useful track record - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Pearson for more details. But what attracts me to his appointment is his reputation for instilling discipline and fitness into teams - both are qualities that have been sadly lacking at Southampton for too long.

Nigel is not the sort of character you would wish to encounter in a dark alley, I suspect....and if this photo of him is any guide, then he seems to have the passion and commitment we need. If only he could get his leg out of the crate of Lucozade. I`m all for giving him a fair chance to make his mark in what will be his first full-time managerial appontment. I just hope the St. Mary`s faithful will show some patience towards him, for there is an awful lot to do and not much time to do it.

So, welcome, Nigel - you could be just what we`ve been looking for.