Claude Puel was relieved to end his wait for a first Premier League win as Southampton manager.
Charlie Austin climbed off the bench to secure a 1-0 victory over Swansea to lift Saints out of the bottom three.
Austin, back among the substitutes despite his two-goal heroics in the Europa Cup win over Sparta Prague on Thursday evening, watched his team-mates spurn a host of chances.
But Austin had been on for just 10 minutes - and already hit the crossbar - when he controlled Dusan Tadic's deflected cross and hammered it into the net.
"It's a good feeling," admitted Puel. "Also it's very important for my players.
"To finish with a victory is very important for the confidence."