The two newly in-form Championship sides since November, Southampton and Norwich City, face off in a game under the St Mary’s lights that’s set to be a fantastic spectacle.
No Championship side has won more games since the appointment of Phillipe Clement at Norwich City on November 18th, but Southampton are on their longest unbeaten streak in over 2 years.
The Canaries have an outside chance of the play-offs, but Tonda Eckert’s Saints could go one step closer with a result here.
In-form visitors pose a huge threat
Norwich City have won five of their last six away league games, as many as in their 33 matches prior.
Their upturn in form under former Rangers boss Phillipe Clement has been nothing short of extraordinary. No team has won more games than them since the Frenchman was appointed on November 18th, who has won 13 games and lifted the Canaries from 23rd to 12th.
But the visitors haven’t won in the league at St Mary’s Stadium since January 2008, and will hope to change that on Wednesday night, against a team looking to go for their fifth home win in a row.
The Saints have lost only one of their 11 home league games under Tonda Eckert, winning three of their last four matches since the 2-1 loss to Hull City in January that saw a huge turn in form. Indeed, only Ipswich Town (0) have lost fewer home games in the Championship in that time.
Since that poor outing against Hull, the Saints have gone unbeaten, with a change of formation being a big catalyst. One of Ross Stewart or Cyle Larin starting every game since has also contributed, after the sale of Adam Armstrong.
A win against Norwich on Wednesday night would show how far they have come, after losing out at Carrow Road 2-1 in December.
Saints could welcome back two stars
Tonda Eckert provided a positive update in his pre-match press conference ahead of Norwich City, with the Saints set to have an almost fully clean bill of health by the weekend.
“Leo [Scienza] and Ross [Stewart] have been on the pitch today. We will see tomorrow. Jay [Robinson] has been with the team. Welington will have his first session on Thursday,” Eckert said.
Fears that star Leo Scienza would be out for a long period of time have been shut down, though the Saints' physios want to make sure this injury stays away for good.
On Flynn Downes and James Bree avoiding two-game suspensions by not being booked against Coventry, Eckert said: “It does make it a little easier. They both live from the quality of their duels. Very happy that we got that one over the line. I think it will help tomorrow.”
Downes told the Daily Echo that he’ll "let the shackles off" on Wednesday night - so expect to see a reckless challenge from him at some point in the game!
Eckert’s side is 12 games unbeaten, and it’s vital to keep that run going now. While the run of games without a loss is just a number, as Saints fans saw in 2023/24 when losing their unbeaten run saw a drop-off in form, keeping it going could be what it takes to reach the play-offs.
Beating Norwich on Wednesday night could be key in their hunt in the last ten games.