It belonged to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez. His team, he knew, had been putrid.
Those days when Liverpool dominated England and Europe seem of another world, because this was an afternoon at St Mary's Stadium where they played the counterfeit football of hapless pretenders.
In complete contrast, Southampton manager Harry Redknapp went for a new system, allowing his son, Jamie, to run the show from midfield. He did it perfectly against one of his old clubs as he ensured Liverpool slumped to a third goalless defeat in a row.
With striker Kevin Phillips injured, Southampton spread five men across midfield, leaving Peter Crouch, a 6ft 7in pole of a man, alone up front. Along with the rest of the team he showed the kind of industry required to keep Southampton in the Premiership.
They loved it. The scenes at the end demonstrated the ecstasy that filled Southampton's hearts as they celebrated their first league win under Redknapp at the 11th attempt.
Jamie Redknapp, a powerful voice in the dressing-room and a conductor in the middle of the pitch, overshadowed a strangely subdued Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and drew all the support and effort he needed from his team.
Redknapp senior was delighted. "It was a terrific performance," he said. "We worked our socks off and bossed them. Everybody played his part. Jamie is a big influence. Crouch is a handful. It is a big result for us and if we work with that enthusiasm, we've got a chance."
Liverpool take on Watford in the Carling Cup semi-final this week with little time for Benitez to lift his players out of their rut. He will also be without his defensive rock, Sammy Hyppia, who went off with a knee injury.
Benitez could offer little in the way of comfort. He just said quietly, almost sadly: "We need to win one game to regain our confidence. We were sleeping on the goals."
Liverpool were two down at half-time and, although they shifted up a gear after the break, they went home with all they deserved, which was a sound beating from a team whose togetherness only underlined the dispirited, dejected attitude of the visitors. The old Anfield Iron himself, Tommy Smith, was introduced to the crowd before the match. He must have been kicking the seat in front of him during it.
The match was not even five minutes old when Southampton scored, courtesy of Liverpool's haphazard approach. Mikael Nilsson broke down the right and when he drove in a low cross Mauricio Pellegrino made a mess of his intended clearance which David Prutton charged down.
The ball flew to Crouch, who returned it for Prutton to score. Southampton caused a succession of problems. The long throws of Rory Delap, guaranteed to reach the penalty spot where the beanpole Crouch lurked, were potent and after 21 minutes Southampton had their second.
The build-up was sweet, involving Anders Svensson, Nilsson and Redknapp who put Prutton away down the right. His cross was textbook and Crouch powered in an unstoppable far-post header.
Southampton were on a roll. A stranger here would never have guessed that relegation was a probability. They were firm in the tackle, they passed accurately and Liverpool could only chase. With the exception of Milan Baros, the Merseysiders were abysmal.
But at the bottom of the table, where it seems that three from four will go down, Saints can fight clear.