SAINTS manager Tonda Eckert said his team need “big energy” to beat Stoke City tomorrow.
Winning only once of their last nine Championship games, Saints need an upturn in form to continue chasing promotion to the Premier League.
They currently sit 15th in the league, seven points away from Wrexham in sixth position.
Stoke are winless in their last three matches, presenting Saints with a favourable opportunity to pick up three points.
Speaking in yesterday’s press conference, Eckert said:
“Stoke are a pragmatic team, and I don’t mean that in a negative way.
“We need to control the transitions, we need big energy in the press and I’m sure we will create chances.”
Despite a recent run of poor form, Stoke have conceded less goals than any team in the league this season, proving to be a team who are hard to beat under Mark Robins.
In their last six games, they have kept four clean sheets.
When asked about a route to victory, Eckert said “Stokes games are normally low scoring from both ends, so it might be one of those games where one goal will be enough. We did this against Sheffield United and we had every chance to do this against Portsmouth.
“They have clear principles in the way they attack. They don’t take too many risks, they know how to defend their own box.”
“There may moment where they drop and we will have to find solutions against the low block.
Saints drew 1-1 last Sunday in the South Coast Derby in a game that Eckert said his side “deserved more” from.
Despite the amount of quality chances created in the match, Saints conceded another goal from a set-piece, this time a corner, bundled home by Ebou Adams.
Conceding goals from set plays have become an ongoing issue for Eckert’s men, despite often lining up with three central-defenders.
Eckert said: “If you look at the goal we conceded in a little bit more detail, they had a similar set up in the first-half that we defended quite well. I think we were too late after the substitutions to set up for exactly the same routine.
“To coach set-pieces, it has always been a combination of an analyst and a member of coaching staff and it has changed over the season for different reasons. We are very clear in the way we prepare.
Eckert also confirmed that Fratton Park goalscorer Leo Scienza is fit to play against Stoke.
He said: “It’s looking good, he is desperate to help the team.
“He will train separate from the group, but we are very positive that he and us will make everything possible to have him on the pitch.
Eckert also said the club are “always having conversations” with the transfer window deadline approaching.
Saints have only signed one player so far this window, goalkeeper Daniel Peretz on loan from Bayern Munich.
Eckert said: “You think some things might be very close and they take a little bit longer.
“I would’ve loved to tell you something concrete, but it’s tough.
“We are having some good conversations and bits are moving forward.”
Saints will take to the pitch at 12:30 tomorrow at the Bet365 Stadium, hoping to be within two points of their opponents by the end of it.
