Not only did a host of key players depart the St Mary's Stadium in the summer of 2014, even manager Mauricio Pochettino headed for Tottenham Hotspur.

It meant that ahead of 2014-15, the Saints were being tipped to be involved in a relegation battle.

Yet, under new boss Ronald Koeman, Southampton defied the odds and the doubters to spend much of the season looking like contenders for one of the Champions League places.

Here, Sports Mole looks back on the entire season down on the South Coast.

August

Having lost so many key players in the summer exodus, Anfield was one of the last venues where Ronald Koeman would have wanted to kick off his Premier League career.

Yet, while they were ultimately defeated 2-1, there were plenty of positives for Koeman to take from the performance that his new-look side put in. Right-back Nathaniel Clyne scored for the Saints - the start of a series of displays that would earn him senior international recognition.

That confidence will have drained away somewhat when West Bromwich Albion left the St Mary's Stadium with a 0-0 draw next time out, but summer signing Graziano Pelle gave the side a boost when he scored his first goal for the club during the 2-0 League Cup win over Championship side Millwall.

The Italian was on the scoresheet again at West Ham United, with Morgan Schneiderlin helping himself to a brace of goals as Koeman's men recorded an impressive 3-1 win at Upton Park.

September

Such was the standard of Southampton's performances and results throughout September, Koeman would be named the Premier League's Manager of the Month.

It all started with the visit of Newcastle United to the South Coast. Pelle was once again clinical, scoring twice in a 4-0 victory as the Tynesiders were put to the sword.

Then, away at Swansea City, a hard-fought 1-0 victory came about thanks to the unlikely source of Victor Wanyama and that was backed up by a great strike from Pelle, which secured a 2-1 home win over Queens Park Rangers.

The Saints also continued to march on in the League Cup. Alexis Sanchez put hosting Arsenal in front early on at the Emirates Stadium, but Dusan Tadic equalised from the penalty spot, before a stunning effort from distance by Clyne secured Southampton's place in the next round of the competition.

October

Having departed for Tottenham in the summer, Pochettino came up against the Saints for the first time at White Hart Lane at the start of October. The Argentine came out on top as well, with Christian Eriksen scoring the only goal of the contest in North London.

The response from Southampton, though, was emphatic. While Sunderland may have defended poorly on the South Coast, the Saints were clinical to say the least. They scored eight unanswered goals - a return that included a brace from Pelle and three assists courtesy of Tadic.

Riding the crest of a wave, how would Southampton react at home to Stoke City? It was by no means as memorable as the previous encounter, but Sadio Mane fired in to give the hosts another three points.

Meanwhile, Stoke were also Southampton's opponents in the League Cup. The tie seemed to be heading into extra time with the score locked at two goals apiece, only for Pelle to strike two minutes from time to send Koeman's side into the quarter-finals of the competition.

November

Prior to this season, Wanyama had not been known for his goalscoring prowess, but he displayed great instincts when he ensured that Southampton got off to a winning start in November with an early strike from distance away at Hull City.

Next up was struggling Leicester City, who frustrated the Saints until Shane Long came off the bench to score twice in quick succession. It was a game that also saw Southampton keep a fourth consecutive Premier League clean sheet.

After those positive results, though, the Southampton bandwagon slowly started to derail. A trip to Aston Villa promised much, but only a late goal from Clyne rescued a point for the visitors, who would play host to champions Manchester City as November drew to a close.

An even contest had been anticipated, but the gulf in class was there for all to see as second-half goals from Yaya Toure, Frank Lampard and Gael Clichy ensured that City won through, despite the dismissal of centre-back Eliaquim Mangala. It was a defeat that would have a big impact on the Saints ahead of a tough run of fixtures.

December

The performance away at Arsenal was much improved at the start of December, but it counted for little thanks to a last-minute strike from Gunners talisman Sanchez.

It meant that the Saints went into their home clash against Manchester United without a victory from their previous three outings - a sequence that would be extended to four. The hosts created a handful of chances, particularly during the first half, but their wastefulness was punished by Robin van Persie, who scored both of United's goals in a 2-1 win.

Now in a rut of sorts, Burnley got the better of Southampton at Turf Moor, before they were embarrassed by League One outfit Sheffield United in the last eight of the League Cup.

Yet, that seemed to be just the jolt that the Saints squad needed to end 2014 on a high note. Everton were well beaten 3-0 at St Mary's, before they scored three again at Crystal Palace. The year was then rounded off by a stubborn display against leaders Chelsea, which ended in a highly credible 1-1 draw.

January

Having recovered from their slump, the Saints were flying once again, so much so that they would end January in third spot.

A 2-0 home win over Arsenal got things underway at the St Mary's Stadium, before Tadic came off the bench to seal a 1-0 victory over Man United at Old Trafford.

After beating two of their major rivals for the Champions League places, next up was a trip to Newcastle. On this occasion it was recent arrival Eljero Elia that did the damage, with the Dutch winger scoring both goals in a 2-1 win.

There was not such good news in the FA Cup, when having required a replay to beat Championship side Ipswich Town in the third round, their route to Wembley was blocked by a Palace side that won 3-2 on the South Coast.

February

From the highs of January to the lows of February. All of a sudden, within a four-week period, the Saints found themselves in fifth place, desperately clinging on to the coattails of those sides in the top four.

Of their five matches, Koeman's side won just one. Swansea and Liverpool both recorded victories at the St Mary's Stadium, while West Ham also headed back to East London with a 0-0 draw to show for their efforts, despite the fact that they had goalkeeper Adrian sent off with 30 minutes left to play.

Meanwhile, on the road, young striker Saido Berahino scored early on to seal a 1-0 win for a revitalised West Brom under Tony Pulis's management.

The one bright moment of the month came at Loftus Road, where Mane struck in stoppage time to secure all three points.

March

While February had been a disappointing month, Southampton showed in March that they were not going to give up on their aspirations of qualifying for the Champions League.

Mane was again the hero when Palace travelled to the South Coast. The striker scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute, which ended a goal drought for the Saints at the St Mary's Stadium of six hours and 27 minutes.

That was followed by a highly credible 1-1 draw away at champions-elect Chelsea, before struggling Burnley were defeated 2-0, with Long among the scorers.

Seven points from a possible nine meant that with eight matches left to play, Southampton may have been sixth, but they were just three points off Man United in fourth.

April

A sticky April ended those dreams of welcoming Europe's elite clubs to the South Coast. Disappointing defeats were suffered away at Everton and Stoke - the latter of which came courtesy of a late goal from Charlie Adam.

There was also an entertaining 2-2 home draw with Spurs, although it was a game tinged with frustration. Pelle had twice given the hosts the lead, but on both occasions they were pegged back as Nacer Chadli and Erik Lamela scored for the North Londoners.

That's not to say that there wasn't some positivity in April, though, as Hull were beaten 2-0 in a game that saw Pelle scored his first Premier League goal since December.

Those results meant that the Europa League represented Southampton's only chance of playing European football next term.

May

Many people say that the Europa League, particularly with the Thursday night games that it throws up, is more of a hindrance than a help to a club - just look at Everton's form this term.

Whether Southampton felt that way, only they know, but it seemed that was certainly the case as they suffered back to back defeats at the start of May to struggling Sunderland and Leicester.

Having said that, there was a fantastic response next time out at home to Villa. Mane, who was one of Southampton's best players throughout the 2014-15 campaign, scored a hat-trick in under three minutes - the fastest in Premier League history. It set the Saints on their way to a 6-1 win.

They would run out of gas during the trip to second-placed Man City on the final day of the season, though, as they lost 2-0 to the hosts, which left the Saints in seventh spot and waiting on the result of next weekend's FA Cup final to learn if they will play in next season's Europa League.