Have the opposition worked out Southampton ahead of run-in?

You can either put it like that or say it is still only two defeats in 28, depending on the narrative you are trying to spin. 

The streak was never going to last forever but it means elements of doubt have crept back in for the Championship's run-in.

Ipswich scoring a 95th-minute winner to push Saints down to fourth after Rotherham had levelled 120 seconds prior summed Tuesday up.

Saints are in a battle with four teams vying for two automatic promotion spots and it is unlikely any of them are going to step away.

Bristol City and Hull City managed rare wins over Saints on consecutive Tuesdays with a similar high-press and high-aggression setup. 

Anass Zaroury gave the visitors the lead inside the first 11 minutes (Image: Stuart Martin)

Relegation-risked Huddersfield Town threatened to do the same prior but Saints rescued a win thanks to a stellar second half.

The victory over West Brom came courtesy of a tactical masterclass at The Hawthorns and a subtle change in Southampton's approach.

Reverting to type at St Mary's to take on the Tigers, it was Liam Rosenior's side who came out looking well-versed. 

Fabio Carvalho, scorer of the second goal and a January transfer target for Saints before opting for Hull, spoke to the press after the match.

“We knew their strengths are with the ball and we weren’t going to come here and sit off letting that happen," Carvalho said.

"We pressed them to death," the Portuguese added, quite rightly. 

Hull's approach was a brave one, going man for man, squeezing the Saints ball players and receivers in their own half to force pressure. 

Anyone watching the game, here’s the issue.

Hull setup with one man tight to every single Saints player when we have the ball.

Nowhere to run, nowhere to play. We’re trying, but we need something different.

It was the same thing when we lost at home to Leicester earlier this… pic.twitter.com/2TeE8yrrsg

— Saints Analysis (@saints_analysis) February 20, 2024

Saints have picked apart teams coming to St Mary's with such tactics already this season but could not manage it again. 

The result was panic in possession - leading directly to the second goal, with Joe Rothwell picked off as he looked to make space at the back.

Hull had already taken the lead from a passage of play started by a simple but effective long ball up by goalkeeper Ryan Allsop. 

The supporters inside St Mary's added to the nerves and frustration, particularly as Saints could go only go backward with no spare man.

"I understand the frustration around the place and the crowd were amazing in the second half to stick with us," Martin insisted. 

Russell Martin watched on as his team were beaten by Hull City (Image: Stuart Martin)

Saints are typically patient and then successful in freeing up one of their 11 players for a pass but against Hull they could not find a way out.

In hindsight, Martin made a mistake with his team selection and, in particular, who he opted to start in the midfield three.

Will Smallbone, Joe Rothwell and Stuart Armstrong did not offer enough going either way to justify their inclusion as a trio.

Should he have also retained skipper Jack Stephens in the team, after his performance at left-back at West Brom?

However, shouts that Saints have been 'worked out' may still be - and hopefully are - premature. 

"The difference was we are usually completely all-in and we weren’t. We lacked the courage to be the team we needed to be," Martin insisted. 

Hull City and Saints could meet again this season if both teams qualify for the play-offs (Image: Stuart Martin)

How different a game would we have had, if Rothwell had finished a golden chance to go ahead in the first 10 minutes? 

The boss is still without lynchpin Flynn Downes - who solves many of the midfield issues - through injury. 

Che Adams and Joe Aribo were deemed not ready to start after injury and absence through international duty respectively. 

The pair will both come in from the beginning to face Millwall, while David Brooks is likely to replace the out-of-form Adam Armstrong. 

Saints went from having 50 per cent of the ball and three shots in the first half to 65 per cent and 12 shots after a triple-change in the break.

Momentum graph of Saints vs Hull City (Image: FotMob)

It is still 11 wins in the last 12 home matches for Saints, facing a Millwall team with one win on the road in their last seven trips. 

You do not just go from being a competent team capable of putting together a 25-match run to the opposite overnight. 

Millwall are set to arrive with new manager bounce - Neil Harris, set to replace Joe Edwards, has already beaten Saints this season.

It was his Gillingham side that intimidated a ragtag Saints with high aggression and domination of set-pieces for a 3-1 win at Priestfield. 

Saints must get back to winning ways immediately and will be favourites to, but it will not be wins against Millwall that define the season. 

Against teams now in the top half, Saints have won four, drawn five and lost six from 15 meetings so far this season. 

Seven of the remaining 13 games come against that current top-half opposition. 

It is the response in these matches that will decide the lay of the land for the season finale at Leeds United.

Joe Aribo will make his first start since New Year's Day on Saturday (Image: Stuart Martin)