Southampton must now focus on closing Championship gap as Tonda Eckert cloud lifts

Southampton's Spygate nightmare, which started back in May, has finally been put to bed.

It has been an agonising wait to work out what Tonda Eckert's individual fate would be for his involvement in the Spygate drama earlier this year.

When it was announced that the German had only been handed a six-week suspended ban, and a £28,000 fine, the relief was immense from everyone associated with the South Coast titans, as a line had finally been drawn under all this mess.

His immediate aim will be to pick up a win in the hotly contested South Coast Derby against Portsmouth on Sunday, as the Saints now look to make up lost ground on the rest of the promotion pack.

Southampton have ground to make up

While the Saints can bury the Spygate hatchet now with their manager, there are still some long-lasting ramifications when it comes to league action that will bother Eckert and Co.

Indeed, they entered into the brand new Championship season with a minus four point penalty next to their name, as one of two severe punishments handed to them by the EFL.

Consequently, despite only losing two second tier clashes all season long, Southampton find themselves in the mid-table positions currently, 13th to be precise.

They are five points off the automatic promotion positions as a result, and three points behind the expanded eight-team playoff format.

Annoyingly, if the points deduction wasn't in play, they'd be sat in a far happier fourth position, above the likes of recently relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers on goal difference.

Saints' league standing with/without point deduction:

They'll just have to swallow this bitter pill and push on, with a win against Portsmouth hopefully catapulting them up the league standings, away from their false 13th position.

All their energy can now go on bridging this gap, with no worry that Eckert will be relieved of his duties anytime soon.

But, it won't be a straightforward surge up the standings, as the October fixture list is tricky at first glance.

The October fixture list is slightly tricky

Southampton won't fear anyone on their own patch.

Indeed, they still boast a sparkling 100% record at St Mary's in league action so far this season, with the Pompey match hopefully ending in another memorable victory on home soil.

They also host Bolton Wanderers and Queens Park Rangers this month, with the Trotters clash gifting Eckert and Co. another likely chance to pick up another three points.

But, Steven Schumacher's men won't be pushovers, even with the Saints' flawless record at St. Mary's, as they beat Norwich City at Carrow Road - just before the international break - in a 4-3 humdinger.

Thierry Gale and Sam Dalby were among the goalscorers during that frantic contest in Norfolk, and they would love to silence the South Coast faithful later this month with a shock win.

In order to make up this ground, Eckert's men will have to be switched on for every single match and give their all, in case complacency does creep in.

The R's will also be a stern test, having only given up seven Championship goals all season, at the time of writing.

Trips to Norwich and West Ham United will also be tricky, with the Canaries - when they're on song - a terrifying attacking unit to try and contain. They can be very Jekyll and Hyde though, with five defeats next to their name, and 17 goals leaked, so it's a winnable match later in the month.

Heading to the London Stadium will be a huge assessment of whether Eckert and Co. can cut it with the Championship big dogs, as the Hammers currently occupy an automatic promotion space, which is the sort of heights the Saints are craving.

It will be very interesting to see where the South Coast side reside in the table after all these October fixtures are done with, with a hope that they're a lot higher in the league, as Eckert masterminds more and more wins, with no dark cloud above his head.

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