SIR Alex Ferguson had words of consolation for under-fire Saints head coach Steve Wigley, urging him to maintain his self-confidence.

The legendary Manchester United boss has seen it all in his time in management and knows all about working through difficult circumstances.

Unthinkable now, but Ferguson took seven seasons to win the Championship and was under serious pressure early in his Old Trafford career.

He said: "It's a difficult time for Steve Wigley - you cannot read anything about Southampton at the moment without discussion of the manager's future and how long he still has at St Mary's.

"If it is any consolation, I can tell him we have all been there.

"Every manager in the game has been down Steve's road and all I can say is that he must not stop believing in himself.

"The strength of his character is being tested as never before and if he is going to come through he has to keep faith with himself.

"That's the key to working your way out."

However Ferguson admitted that Wigley, who has recorded just one win in 14 Premiership games, needs to start picking up victories.

"He has had a string of credible draws like the Arsenal one which should provide encouragement - though now, only winning is really going to help him clear of the danger area," he said.

Of Saturday's 3-0 win, he added: "We played exceptionally well in the second-half and could have scored a lot of goals."

The United boss saw his side frustrated by Saints in the first half before eventually recording their seventh successive league and cup victory.

The win left United still nine points behind leaders Chelsea but, with the Blues facing Arsenal next weekend, the gap could close still further in the coming weeks.

Ferguson said: "A 3-0 victory was satisfying.

"Teams like Southampton were going to come and make it difficult and they did that in the first half. We had to keep it patient and not get frustrated by it.

"There was a far better goal threat about us and I was pleased about that.

"Ronaldo got his first of the season. He said to me he was going to get 12 goals this season so that's a start."

Saints fans had a distinct feeling of deju vu at Old Trafford - it was their side's 15th defeat in their last 17 visits, a run stretching back to January 1988. The other two games were drawn.