Due to the Spygate scandal of last season, Southampton were deducted four points. However, the Saints are currently eighth in the Championship, which is the final playoff place for this campaign.
Remarkably, Southampton are also just four points off of the league leaders West Ham United. The Hammers are tied on points with Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion, but ahead on goal difference. West Ham have a goal difference of 11, which is only one more than the Saints.
Credit must go to Tonda Eckert for Southampton's form this season. They have only lost one game league game, and that was on opening day to Watford. The Saints have since then won four and drawn two of their Championship games.
Eckert's side suffered a heavy defeat to West Ham in the EFL Cup. However, that was a game where both sides made multiple changes. Going out of the cup early, will be a boost to Southampton's league campaign, as they do not have a mid-week game now. Eckert and his team now have all week to prepare for the away tie against Wrexham this weekend.
Given the controversy, Southampton have done well
The Saints may have been in the Premier League had their analyst not been caught spying on a Middlesbrough training session during the playoffs. This led to Southampton being chucked out of the playoff final and Boro taking their place. Hull City still won the playoff final at Wembley and are now flying high in the top flight of English football.
The scandal is still haunting Southampton, as chants of the club cheating rang out from the away end as Bristol City were the visitors at the weekend. The Saints had the last laugh as they won 4-1. However, the FA are still to decide on a suitable punishment for Eckert for the spying that has gone on under his tenure.
Bev Priestman who was Canada's women's head coach got a year ban after two of her staff were caught spying with drones at the Paris Olympics. Therefore, the precedent does not look good for Eckert. If he were to get a ban of this length, then he would likely be sacked.
Eckert has done a great job when it comes to results on the pitch since he replaced Will Still last season. However, off the field, as a result of the spying, it has seen the club miss out on a chance of promotion. The repercussions could get even worse for Eckert, but for now, the Saints are performing well in the Championship.
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