Southampton's resilient 1-0 win over Portsmouth on Sunday was a long time coming.
Amazingly, this was the first time the Saints had won a South Coast Derby, in league action, since November 2004, with Kevin Phillips the talismanic hero on that occasion, as Southampton ran out slim 2-1 victors.
This time around, it was another cagey victory as James Bree scored the decisive goal, with the hosts having to dig deep to collect their first league win over Pompey in 22 years, due to Cameron Bragg's first-half dismissal.
The mood around Southampton at the moment is sky-high, with both Cyle Larin and Daniel Peretz starting the South Coast Derby, despite injury concerns.
Moreover, Tonda Eckert is here to stay in the St. Mary's dug-out, after he was handed just a six-week suspended ban for his involvement in Spygate, and he was full of emotion at the full-time whistle, as he got his first ever Derby win as Saints head coach.
The good news just keeps coming, with reports suggesting that the St. Mary's hierarchy are ready to tie down the German tactician.
Southampton preparing to cement Eckert's future
TalkSPORT is reporting that the Saints plan to sit down with Eckert very shortly to discuss a new extended contract, after he escaped a significant Spygate ban.
Indeed, with that concern now history, a new contract is a pressing matter, with the 33-year-old out of contract this summer, and he could well be snapped up by a higher up club, owing to his very impressive record on the South Coast.
🚨 Southampton are planning to offer head coach Tonda Eckert a new long-term contract after his FA Spygate reprieve #saintsfc @talkSPORT pic.twitter.com/F3V3euw7FX
— SaintsExtra (@SaintsExtra) October 13, 2026
Therefore, these postponed extension talks must whir into motion shortly, with no one better suited to the Saints job right now than Eckert, as promotion is hunted down, with a sublime 26 Championship wins next to his name as the St. Mary's boss.
It really would be a picture perfect ending to this chapter of his Saints career if promotion is won, as he has been through hell and back with matters involving Spygate, only to still be in the job and thriving.
Promotion would be a very sweet ending to this chapter
It would have been very easy for the powers that be at Southampton to dismiss Eckert immediately after the spying accusations came to light, with the South Coast giants also dumped out of the playoffs.
But, they stuck by the 33-year-old, and the results haven't dipped, with five Championship wins this season putting them firmly in the promotion race, despite a four point deduction having to be swallowed.
They are only one point off the expanded playoff format, and only five points behind the automatic promotion positions, with a new and improved deal for Eckert a deserved end outcome for how he has remained completely unfazed, whatever has been thrown his way.
With no home defeats in the league since January, as well, there should be a fire in Southampton's belly to finally realise their promotion dreams.
In a dream set of circumstances, Eckert is the long-term man at the helm who guides the Saints to a jubliant promotion, and then consolidates their presence back in the Premier League.
Before anyone gets too carried away, the season does need to be taken at a game-by-game basis, with Norwich City up next a tough away challenge.
But, when hurdles and obstacles have hit the Saints in recent times, they've managed to come out the other side with smiles on their faces, and they've been emboldened by the pitfalls that have hit them.
Eckert, as well, looks as if he will soon be rewarded for his own doggedness from the dug-out with an extended contract.
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