The key to Rusk's 'keep it simple' approach at Southampton

Given how bad the St Mary's side have looked previously, some may have suspected it easier to redesign one of humanity's oldest inventions.

The point earned at West Ham in Saturday's 1-1 draw makes it two taken from three Premier League games in interim spells under Rusk.

It is a small sample size but that is a take home rate of 0.66 points per match, compared to 0.31 under Russell Martin and 0.29 under Ivan Juric.

Speaking in his first press conference after Juric's departure earlier this month, Rusk said he would focus more on developing mentality than style.

He set out the ambition to restore pride, build momentum, give the fans moments to cheer and ultimately pick up as many points as possible.

Lesley Ugochukwu celebrates scoring (Image: Stuart Martin / Southampton FC)

Mentality and style go hand in hand, and Rusk's teams are easily recognisable compared to those under ideologues Martin and Juric.

With this group of players, who have conceded 141 league goals in the last two seasons, Rusk operates in a defence first, attack second approach.

All three league matches under Rusk have been 0-0 at the break, giving his side as good a chance as any of nicking something later in the contest.

In all three matches, Rusk has picked a back five and deployed a low block, with two defensive midfielders, and effectively three attackers.

He is not exactly spoilt for choice but when the teams selected by Rusk have been revealed at 2:45pm, by and large, they are received positively.

Rusk picks the defence that understands each other best, and plays everyone in their best positions with a clear plan on how to hurt the opponent.

Against Aston Villa, which was 0-0 after 72 minutes despite finishing in a 3-0 defeat, Southampton's wide forwards provided most of the threat.

Kamaldeen Sulemana and Cameron Archer have both been goal shy themselves but were effective in playing off of target man Paul Onuachu.

Saints should have led against Villa, and it was only after they lost Onuachu to injury that their game plan faltered and their shape collapsed.

Rusk was also disappointed Saints did not lead against the Hammers, with Kamaldeen hitting the crossbar and Kyle Walker-Peters putting wide.

Simon Rusk pictured with Kyle Walker-Peters (Image: Stuart Martin / Southampton FC)

Walker-Peters, facing the team who might look to sign him on a free transfer this summer, was a regular attacking threat in the capital.

Although Rusk insists he is not obsessing over records, Southampton's otherwise meaningless point at West Ham was extremely important.

The Hammers were poor and a better side would have taken the victory, but we need to be realistic about where Saints are as a team right now. 

They still need one draw from the final five matches to surpass Derby County's record lowest points total ever and avoid lasting embarrassment.

Up next, Saints host good but beatable Fulham on Saturday, April 26, and then they visit dreadfully bad Leicester City on Saturday, May 3.

After that, it's Man City, the final competitive match at Everton's Goodison Park, and Arsenal, to complete a gruelling Premier League season.

Saints will feel the next two are their best chance to earn that, and Rusk has the blueprint for how to do it - expect minimal changes.

Rusk only made one personnel switch from Aston Villa to West Ham - accommodating the returning Flynn Downes - and could go unchanged now.

Rusk is keeping it simple, and that is the most effective approach available. There is still intrigue in seeing through this wretched league campaign.

The players, already against better counterparts, had been lurched from one extreme playing style to another and lost clarity and confidence.

Who knows what will happen now? Could it go well enough that Saints regret not merely adopting Rusk's minimalist approach much earlier?