Southampton FC have received big boost in their hunt for Will Still's replacement | OneFootball

Southampton's win against QPR relieves a lot of pressure as the club searches for a new head coach.

It has been a far from ideal start to the season for Southampton.

The Saints were relegated from the Premier League with relative ease last term, but still entered the 2025/26 Championship term as one of the red-hot promotion favourites.

However, with the club sat just outside the relegation zone, manager Will Still lost his job earlier this week, leaving the Saints in search of a new man to get their season back on track.

With the international break approaching, the club were handed a big boost thanks to their recent win against Queens Park Rangers.

Southampton handed a big boost as the manager search goes on

Following Still's departure, U21 manager Tonda Eckert was thrust into a caretaker role ahead of the Saints' trip to QPR. With the team performing poorly in recent weeks, and QPR seemingly a side ready for a top-half push under Julien Stephan, it was far from an ideal clash for a Southampton side low on confidence.

And lo and behold, the visitors went on to secure a fantastic 2-1 victory at Loftus Road, with goals from Jay Robinson and Leo Scienza.

The R's went on to throw the kitchen sink at Eckert's side in the closing stages, following Rumarn Burrell's goal in the 73rd minute to halve the deficit. However, the Saints were able to hold on to pick up their first win since September, just their third all season.

The result placed Southampton 19th, and with none of the sides below them able to win in midweek, there is a crucial six-point buffer between themselves and the relegation zone.

A favourable home clash against Sheffield Wednesday this weekend sees the Saints carry a good chance of climbing even further up the standings before the international break, leaving a stronger base for any incoming manager to build upon. The break itself provides Southampton with valuable time to get the managerial decision right.

The pressure lifted from that win at QPR can't be understated. Doing the same against Sheffield Wednesday would do the same.

Promotion charge can still be the aim for Southampton

The simple fact of the matter is that Southampton's squad is far too good to be placed in the lower echelons of the Championship standings. While a quick return to the division following promotion can often be a shock to the system, the Saints entered the current campaign with promotion-winning ambitions.

Their recruitment matched this. While the likes of Matheus Fernandes and Tyler Dibling departed for big money over the summer, Southampton recruited well.

Alongside Fin Azaz and Tom Fellows - both of whom carry good records in the second tier - the club secured the signing of exciting German midfielder Caspar Jander, who arrived from 2. Bundesliga side FC Nürnberg after being chased by DFB-Pokal holders, Europa League outfit, and Champions League contenders VfB Stuttgart - signalling just how highly rated the 22-year-old is.

Leo Scienza, who scored a stunning solo goal in the win against QPR, also made the move from Germany. He has since become one of the club's key players, despite their poor run of form throughout the season's opening months. With 2.39 chances created per 90, as well as 2.39 successful crosses, he is someone who will continue to thrive in a Saints side that is more capable of finishing off chances and benefiting from his creativity that was often limited in a more disciplined Heidenheim team last term.

For any manager coming through the door, there is potential at St Mary's. For any relegated side, a battle at the top end of the division will always be expected. And while Southampton have not started in fine form, a promotion challenge absolutely can still be the aim for the club moving forward into the winter months.

Momentum for that might be being built in the interim, with Southampton potentially heading into the international break in a far better position than where they were when Still departed.