Brett Ormerod on emotional return to Southampton, Blackpool's first game under Mick McCarthy and tough Middlesbrough test

It was great to see some old friends and it was actually a bit nostalgic. I went back to my old house and I got a bit emotional if I’m being honest.

I left the club in 2006 but there’s still people there that were there when I played, so I enjoyed catching up with them and it was nice to get a good reception from the fans.

It’s my southern home. I drove down on Saturday morning and once I got on the A34 it felt like I was going home again, because I did it for four-and-a-half years and my daughter was born there, so it felt weird. But a nice weird.

As for the game, I thought Blackpool did okay. In the first-half Southampton were the better team and deserved to be in front, but they had a right go in the second-half.

They looked more solid in Mick McCarthy’s first game in charge and if they can maintain that level of performance in the league then they’ve got a chance. It’s going to be a tough ask to stay up, but I’ve seen enough to know they can do it.

On another day with a bit of luck they could have even nicked it. I thought Ian Poveda was unlucky with his chance. People will ask why he decided to chip it but I thought the goalkeeper did well to read that, although he probably could have gone round him.

They gave it a good go in the end and it was hard luck they went out. They gave a good account of themselves but the league is the main thing now, isn’t it?

There’s some big, big games coming up now. Middlesbrough away is certainly a tough first league game for McCarthy. I’m down to cover the game for BBC Radio Lancashire and I’m looking forward to it, so hopefully Blackpool can pick up a positive result.

Middlesbrough are flying under Michael Carrick, aren’t they? I have to say I’m a little bit surprised at how well he’s done so far, and that’s nothing against him at all, but it’s his first managerial job and he’s at a club with a lot of expectation, but he’s settled into it absolutely brilliantly.

I know he’s been a first-team coach at Manchester United, but being a coach and going into management are two completely different things, but he seems to be absolutely relishing it.

Finally, the transfer window is now closed and I think Blackpool will be pretty happy with their business.

There were a couple of debutants against Southampton in Charlie Goode and Tom Trybull and they both looked good. I was impressed with both of them.

I thought they settled in well, the centre-half slotted in seamlessly and Trybull got about and broke up things, so there were plenty of positives to take from the game.

We’re coming to the business end of the season now and these lads are going to have to really dig in, give it everything and if they can do that, hopefully it will be enough to be in this league next year.