Southampton dominated in their first official match of the 2026/27 season, breaking down League Two opposition to progress in the Carabao Cup.
Tonda Eckert’s side made their depth pay, with striker Cyle Larin and academy graduate Romeo Akachukwu scoring in the final 20 minutes of the game in a 2-0 win.
Colchester United were the side on the receiving end of the result, as the fourth tier team stuck out a defiant performance for much of the game.
Five things can be learnt from the game for the Saints, as the countdown begins ahead of their first Championship outing on opening day.
Saints cannot rely on this striker
Saints boss Tonda Eckert chose Chilean Ben Brereton Diaz to lead the line at the Colchester Community Stadium, a player who has struggled since signing for the club in 2024.
The 27-year-old surprised nobody with a lacklustre performance, offering no route to goal for shadow striker Lewis Dobbin, who looked lost behind.
It’s clear to see that Ben Brereton Diaz and Damion Downs are not viable options for Southampton as it stands - and Diaz has surely missed his opportunity under Eckert with Cyle Larin back fit and the club openly searching for a new signing up front with Divine Mubama looking likely to sign on loan.
Peretz will continue to bail them out
Southampton’s fortunes changed in the 2025/26 campaign following the signing of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz.
The 25-year-old stood in net for just one league loss from January onwards, outperforming every striker he came up against.
More of the same came from his first start as a permanent Southampton player, with Daniel Peretz making a magnificent triple save to keep the game level at 0-0. The Israeli shot-stopper is going to continue to bail them out when they need him most.
Spygate has only strengthened support
The Spygate debacle that saw Southampton expelled from the Championship play-offs in May 2026 divided the club at first, with the immediate future remaining uncertain.
But following Chairman Dragan Solak publicly backing his young manager, Southampton’s fanbase has looked as close as ever.
The Saints sold out Colchester’s away end in their usual well-supported fashion, with non-stop chanting in praise of Tonda Eckert. Next season could be one to remember and the fans know it.
Next season’s breakout star emerges
Young forward Romeo Akachukwu impressed throughout pre-season for Southampton, showing signs of being a really exciting player.
The 20-year-old, who spent the first half of last season on loan at Colchester, scored his first senior goal for the Saints in extraordinary fashion, chopping the ball past a defender before sliding it home.
Tyler Dibling was the academy showpiece in 2024/25, Cam Bragg in 2025/26. Next year could be Akachukwu’s time to shine.
Away grounds to be hostile
A trip to Colchester away was never going to be too testing for Southampton, and neither was the atmosphere.
However, chants aimed towards the Saints labelling them as cheats were frequent, with a section of the League Two side’s fans holding up a banner humorously condemning Spygate.
In better-supported stadiums in the Championship, Southampton are going to be the centre of aggravated chants. It’s lucky Oxford United and Ipswich Town won’t be in the same division, following late revelations of spying against them.
Now focus for the Saints turns to a huge Championship season, starting with Watford at Vicarage Road.
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