Mark Hughes spent four days surveying Southampton, concluding his players have been severely damaged by criticism, and left Wigan claiming that this stoic performance will act as a springboard to Premier League survival.
Having only signed a short-term deal until June, Hughes is seen as a quick fix by the board and certainly needs one himself. It is perhaps why he looked quite so animated at full-time, punching the air and pumping his fists towards the away end.
This might have merely been victory away at a League One club but his actions suggested Hughes weighed great significance on his first hurdle.