Chris Wilder received a pre-match vote of confidence from Sheffield United owner Prince Abdullah just before kick-off at St Mary's.

And that was pretty much where his afternoon peaked.

Another game brought another confidence-denting defeat for Wilder's struggling side and their wait for a first league win of the season goes on.  

No team has managed to avoid relegation from the perilous position Sheffield United find themselves in, rock bottom with just one point from 12 games.

And during one of the most comfortable 90 minutes' Southampton will enjoy this season there was little to suggest the Blades will be able to make history and buck that trend.

It left the words of Abdullah, who was in the stands, as the main crumb of comfort for Wilder from this trip to south coast.

He said: 'As far as I know Chris wants to stay and we want him to stay. He is the best manager to take us out of the current situation.

'If he wasn't the manager of the team I would hire him now and if the worst comes to the worst and we are relegated, I believe he is the manager to take us back quickly.

'It's a long season but we will stick with Chris no matter what.'

Wilder said: 'Whatever the owner has to say or needs to say is down to him so I will respect that. I do my work to the best of my ability and that's what we all do.'

As Sheffield United were being so outclassed and out-passed that they ended the game being taunted by chants of 'that's why you're going down' and oles it was hard not to wonder if the emphatic backing from above had been a bit premature.

Yet, in some ways, it was fitting that it came at Southampton, a club who have shown the value of sticking with their manager.

When many would have pulled the trigger a year ago, they persisted with Ralph Hasenhuttl and their faith has been handsomely rewarded.

From the bottom three 12 months ago, the Austrian has transformed them into one of the most well-drilled, impressive sides in the league.

One Wilder labelled one of the best his team had faced this season and that sat third at full-time - fourth after the day's play. 

Hasenhuttl said: 'When you see us playing, it's not a coincidence that we're up in the table. Every part of our game has had a massive development. I don't see why we can't continue having this points average.' 

Southampton's returning fans left an emotional Hasenhuttl with 'a few tears in my eyes' and injected further intensity into Southampton's trademark and, at times, furious pressing.

'It is so nice to have them back,' Hasenhuttl said. 'We wanted to show how much we have learned during their time away. We have made some big developments.'

Their first goal, when it eventually arrived, had long been on the cards but it also came after a brief period that summed up how things are going for Sheffield United.

In the 32nd minute they carved out their only first-half opportunity, a very good one spurned by Sander Berge when he couldn't quite convert Enda Stevens's cross.

Two minutes later they fell behind. 

James Ward-Prowse swung a free-kick into the box, Phil Jagielka headed away when Aaron Ramsdale was poised to gather, Jan Bednarek kept the ball alive in the box and former Blade Che Adams beat Enda Stevens to side foot the ball into the net.

Wilder had already recalled stalwarts Jagielka and ex-Southampton striker Billy Sharp, handing them rare starts.

Early in the second half he replaced the injured McBurnie with another former Saint, David McGoldrick, tweaked his formation and also brought on record signing Rhian Brewster on the hour.

But whatever Wilder tries at the moment to spark Sheffied United into life, nothing is working. 

That was underlined by Southampton scoring again, once more two minutes after a positive Sheffield United move, this time the introduction of Brewster.

Stuart Armstrong traded passes with Danny Ings and the Scottish midfielder's shot took a couple of deflections to deceive Ramsdale.

Ward-Prowse and Ings went close as Southampton pursued a third which finally arrived with seven minutes left when sub Redmond squeezed a shot past Ramsdale after a one-two with Oriol Romeu.

Scroll down to see how it all unfolded with Sportsmail's live runner.