Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first game in charge of Southampton ended in defeat after Callum Paterson’s goal gave Cardiff City a precious victory over their Premier League relegation rivals.
Cardiff squandered several chances during a frenetic first half in which a vulnerable visiting defence looked there for the taking.
Southampton appeared to have weathered that storm after the break but, as the rain came driving down at a raucous Cardiff City Stadium, they fell behind in shambolic fashion.
A pass from Victor Camarasa ran harmlessly to Jannik Vestergaard but the Saints centre-back inexplicably dithered on the ball and was dispossessed by Paterson, whose low finish dribbled slowly into the corner.
That gave Cardiff a fourth win from five home matches, lifting them up to 14th place in the Premier League, four points clear of the bottom three.
For Southampton, meanwhile, a 12th league game without victory leaves them second from bottom of the table, three points adrift of safety.
BBC