IT wasn’t pretty, nor was it convincing, but Southampton are back to winning ways after they overcame Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United with a 1-0 win courtesy of a deflected Leo Scienza strike – handing Tonda Eckert his first Championship win since their 3-2 victory at St Mary’s Stadium in early December.
As we look ahead to the all-important South coast derby against Portsmouth this weekend, I digest just what we can take from that slender win and the indications it has for that game and the rest of the season.
Ross Stewart gives Southampton a different type of attacking threat
The Loch Ness Drogba’s injury difficulties have been well-documented since he put pen to paper and signed for The Saints back in 2023.
Having joined the club despite having undergone Achilles tendon surgery, then manager Russell Martin felt signing the Scotsman, who had registered 10 goals in 13 Championship matches the season prior, was a risk worth taking and had hoped he would be the man to provide the extra firepower needed to secure automatic promotion.
Needless to say, things did not go to plan, with multiple spells on the sidelines having followed, leading fans to question why he was purchased in the first place.
However, since returning from his most recent hamstring injury and even before that recent setback, the 29-year-old has showcased the range of skills he brings to the table that differ from those of Adam Armstrong and Cameron Archer, namely his air superiority and ability to bring teammates into matches, which were on display for all to see on Wednesday night against the Blades.
The question now is how best to manage the 6ft 2in striker so that he doesn’t run the risk of further injuries.
Welington looks assured. Is Manning’s place in doubt?
The Brazilian left-back has seen his minutes limited, Ryan Manning seen as the go-to man to occupy that space until recently, but when the rare opportunity was presented to him at St Mary’s Stadium, he grasped at it.
One of the big reasons behind Southampton’s recent woes has been an evident drop in the once steady and reliable performances of Manning – enter a chance for the former Sao Paulo defender to prove he can step up.
Welington’s link-up play with his countryman, the ever-impressive Leo Scienza, who himself put in a man-of-the-match performance, raised questions that Sheffield United’s defenders were unable to answer and now leaves Tonda Eckert facing a dilemma on who should start the all-important fixture at Fratton Park.
Eckert may have found the answer to his defensive woes
The decision to change from 3-4-2-1 to 4-4-2 for Southampton’s most recent fixture was, for many fans, long overdue.
The starting line-up of Elias Jelert, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jack Stephens and the already mentioned Welington (who arguably put in his best performance since his debut against Wrexham) produced a solid defensive display, unlike what has been on offer in recent weeks.
Besides a moment of madness near the end of the fixture when Jelert and Harwood-Bellis misjudged the bounce of the ball and allowed Patrick Bamford the opportunity to level late on – which he would have converted if not for the heroics of Daniel Peretz – Southampton looked relatively comfortable. It will be fascinating to see what formation the man in charge now opts for this weekend.
The fact of the matter remains. If Eckert does revert to a formation of three centre-backs and the results drop again, questions on his longevity in the dugout will be raised.
Victory against Sheffield United has undeniably given him leeway, but a defeat of any kind against not only their bitter local rivals but also a team languishing so close to the relegation zone (one point and a game in hand on Blackburn Rovers at the time of writing) will almost certainly see the pressure mount.
The South coast derby between Portsmouth and Southampton takes place on the 25th of January at 12:00 this Sunday.
