How Eckert's Saints have made late promotion charge

Former Southampton Under-21s head coach Tonda Eckert replaced Will Still as manager in November 2025 [Getty Images] When Southampton beat Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night it stretched their remarkable unbeaten run across all competitions to 18 games. Having played one more match than second-placed Ipswich Town, they sit just two points behind the Tractor Boys and look well positioned for a charge at the automatic promotion spots in their remaining four league outings. In the past 18 matches, players have stepped up for Saints and they have developed into a quality side peaking at just the right time in the season.

But this upward surge and late push for automatic promotion seemed a long way away at the start of the campaign when they were sat near the other end of the table under Will Still. When the club parted company with Still they were sat just three points above the relegation zone, the hierarchy then took somewhat of a gamble on Tonda Eckert, giving him the full role after impressing on an interim basis. That gamble has hugely paid off, with Saints now playing their best football of the season and having a great chance of bouncing back to the Premier League.

Southampton beat Blackburn to fire promotion bid Quality across the pitch Southampton are just two points behind second-placed Ipswich Town [Getty Images] Saints have top players across the pitch at the moment and look solid in defence as well as dangerous in attack. The three players behind the striker - Leo Scienza, Finn Azaz and Tom Fellows - are playing their best football of the season and look able to hurt any defence, including Premier League leaders Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals . That attacking trio have scored 17 goals and registered 23 assists so far in the league this season.

Shea Charles has really stepped up in midfield and is playing the best football of his Saints career since signing from Manchester City in 2023. Similarly is Taylor Harwood-Bellis , someone who has established himself as one of the standout defenders in the division and has become a real leader for Saints on the pitch. Southampton have scored the second most goals in the Championship this season and look unstoppable, scoring ten in their past three matches with players chipping in from all positions.