Positioned next to the Ted Drake statue on St Mary’s outer concourse, the Saints Brass Band boomed out the Rocky theme tune in the 30 minutes before kick-off.
Like Sylvester Stallone, it seems Ralph Hasenhuttl isn’t going down without a fight.
Who knows what defeat for Southampton would have meant for the Austrian coach here on Sunday.
Declan Rice drew West Ham level in the second half with a curled strike from outside the box
The Hammers’ skipper combined well with Said Berahma before shooting from outside the box
West Ham are now unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions since losing to Everton
Left-back Romain Perraud gave Southampton the lead early in the opening first half
It wasn’t the victory he’d have hoped for, but a point – after four successive losses – is a start at least.
Perraud’s 20th minute opener but the Saints ahead against a Hammers side in great form
Is it enough to ensure he takes charge of Wednesday’s south-coast derby against Bournemouth? It’d be harsh to sack him after this gutsy showing from his team.
Who knows, perhaps Hasenhuttl can climb off the canvas like the Italian Stallion, and turn his own battle for survival around to emerge victorious.
What Hasenhuttl would constitute as a victory at this moment in time is probably a fluid entity right now.
Defeat at the Vitality Stadium this week and then he’s back under the microscope. But, baby steps – that’s as much as Hasenhuttl can ask for right now.
Because, in reality, this point is unlikely to have altered too much with regards to the long-term thinking of Sport Republic, Southampton’s owners.
Succession planning is in full swing behind the scenes at St Mary’s. Of course, the counter argument is that any club worth their salt have a plan ready to execute in the event of any managerial departure.
But when the club you run losses five out of six matches, then those discussions take on significantly more gravitas.
West Ham argued that Jarrod Bowen had been blocked by referee Peter Bankes for the goal
West Ham laid siege to Gavin Bazunu’s Southampton goal as the game draw to a finale
Armel Bella-Kotchap had to be substituted after landing awkwardly on his shoulder
Similarly, Sportsmail understands that a number of managers across Europe, knowing full well Hasenhuttl’s time may be drawing to close, are manoeuvring themselves into position to at least be considered once the Saints decide enough is enough.
That speaks volumes for Southampton’s lure, they remain one of the best run clubs in the top-flight.
We’ve been here with Hasenhuttl before, though. And somehow the 55-year-old has managed to dig his way out of trouble – though the cost of sacking Hasenhuttl, who now has just over 18 months to run on his current deal, is understood to have played a factor in the previous regime falling short of pulling the trigger.
Che Adams drew several saves from West Ham’s Lukasz Fabianski amid heavy pressure
Sportsmail understands that several sides will move for Ralph Hasenhuttl should he be sacked
But it feels different this time. The wheels are in motion, it’s hard to stop them turning. Identifying the man to take Southampton, who want a manager who will buy into the club’s ethos of investing in youth, forward may take a bit of time.
Chief executive Martin Semmens will have a role to play, you’d imagine Sport Republic supremo Rasmus Ankersen will have his ideas too.
Dragan Solak, de-facto owner, will surely have an input too.
On the pitch, Hasenhuttl’s players certainly put a shift in for their under pressure manager after another turbulent week as it emerged head of senior recruitment Joe Shields is leaving to take up a similar role at Chelsea.
Shields only joined from Manchester City in the summer, so you can imagine how his decision to leave has been received at the very top of Southampton.
The fact the move to Stamford Bridge was leaked to an Italian journalist, when only a few people knew about the discussions has also raised eyebrows and suspicions.
Nevertheless, Shields’ departure is major blow, he’s unquestionably on of the best spotters of talent in the country.
Of course, all that will be inconsequential to West Ham boss David Moyes, who will have left St Mary’s bewildered at how his team did not leave with all three points.
Indeed, the Hammers were riled at the way Southampton took a 20th minute lead as Romain Perraud’s long range effort deflected off Ben Johnson and past Lukasz Fabianski.
Jarrod Bowen looked to be getting to the ball before Perraud until referee Peter Bankes blocked him.
The West Ham players surrounded the referee but he ignored their pleas. In truth, Southampton probably deserved their advantage.
Their opening was bright and threatening. Hasenhuttl’s tenure has been overshadowed by suggestions of a disconnect with his squad.
There is truth to those assertions, but on this evidence not enough for them to throw Hasenhuttl under the bus.
Gianluca Scamacca was substituted in the second half after several shots on Bazunu’s goal
Even in the second half, when it looked for all the world that West Ham would snatch a winner following Declan Rice’s beautiful equaliser in the 64th minute, there was ample blood, sweat and tears to suggest the Saints squad haven’t completely turned their back on Hasenhuttl just yet.
Had Gavin Bazunu not produced some excellent stops, had Gianluca Scamacca and Lucas Paqueta shown better quality in front of goal then the boos that greeted the final whistle would have been far more audible.
But that said, Fabianski had a strong argument to be named West Ham’s best player on the day; two saves from Che Adams in the first half particularly vital.
In the end, it was probably a fair result – a result Hasenhuttl will hope keeps the wolves from the door.
The Saints had lost their last four games in a record tracing back to August before today