Eyebrows rose at 6:15 on Wednesday evening when Tonda Eckert named his lineup to face Norwich City at Carrow Road, just three days after a thrilling South Coast Derby win.
Nottingham Forest loanee Zach Abbott replaced James Bree, while Leo Scienza and Cyle Larin rested for Sam Edozie and Lewis Dobbin. It was an interesting switch-up.
However, as Eckert told BBC Radio Solent at full-time, “Why do you doubt me?” Why did we ever doubt him? The German’s team found victory without exiting second gear, securing a second clean sheet of the season and first victory on the road.
We’ve taken five learnings from the match that saw the Saints enter the play-off places in the Championship despite their four-point deduction.
Squad steps up
Sam Edozie had a poor first half. Lewis Dobbin worked hard, but struggled to bear fruit in the goalless 45. Debutant Zach Abbott struggled.
While the latter, on a yellow card, was hooked during the interval, Edozie and Dobbin seriously improved and worked together in creating the match-winner that dropped at Japan international Kuryu Matsuki’s feet.
Eckert post-match claimed the decision to leave Scienza out was purely tactical, increasing the impressiveness of the performance.
Jander machine
Worries around Flynn Downes’ injury that saw him removed from the game in the 20th minute should not have been so. Caspar Jander, who has just returned from a three-month injury sustained during pre-season, came on and put out a MOTM-worthy display.
The German, slight in appearance and stature but so brilliant at ball-winning and carrying, dominated the game after his arrival.
After so long out, the 23-year-old reminded fans why he is most likely the Championship’s best midfielder.
Defensive improvements
Rather than sitting deep and letting the opposition attack them, Southampton were once again resolute with their pressing further up the pitch, a big reason for their clean sheet.
Divin Mubama and Cyle Larin were both introduced to partner one another in a rigid 4-4-2 for the final period of the game, full-pressing Norwich’s backline and forcing them long. It worked perfectly.
Once again, the credit is Tonda Eckert’s and the coaching staff’s. A huge improvement has been seen defensively following the international break.
Pragmatic display
Saints didn’t sit on the game, bringing on James Bree and Cyle Larin to see out the encounter and ensure maximum points despite the rotated starting XI. It was a pragmatic decision.
The substitutes all played their part, while Finn Azaz was boisterous, winning the physical battle against a feisty Norwich team.
The display was extremely promising, and a nine-point week could well be on the cards now, with Bolton Wanderers up next.
Successful week for Peretz
Daniel Peretz may have been feeling an Aaron Ramsdale-shaped shadow in his midst a week ago ahead of the South Coast Derby, as the Israeli goalkeeper faced a battle for fitness to make the game.
Luckily for him, Peretz was fit and made the match, keeping his first clean sheet of the league season. A first away clean sheet then followed against Norwich, which will have left the 25-year-old extraordinarily happy.
The Saints haven't yet clicked this campaign - something that will encourage them given their best start points-wise since the Hassenhuttl days, and the Koeman era before that.
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