Southampton manager Nigel Adkins has insisted that he will be given time to turn things around at St Mary's despite making a poor start to the season.
Adkins watched Saints slip to their seventh defeat in nine Premier League games at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, despite a spirited second-half display.
Saints are struggling to grind out results in the top flight but Adkins thinks that the only way to earn points is to stick together and work hard.
He told the Daily Mail: "I'll get more time from the board.
"We have regular meetings for all employees and I told them that we've had plain sailing in recent years with back-to-back promotions.
"But this season it is going to be a bit choppy. But you have to stick together and come through the storm. It's a great challenge and one we are enjoying."
Saints have a welcome distraction from their league struggles in midweek when they travel to Elland Road to face Leeds United in the Capital One Cup.
Liam Power
