The Southampton star proving he's one of the league's best and it's not Cyle Larin

The Championship never disappoints in being a wildly unpredictable league.

Heading into the 3pm kick-off at St. Mary's, it was expected that Southampton would have to battle hard to pick up a result, as Alex Neil's Millwall arrived to the South Coast as flawless league leaders.

The script wasn't adhered to, that's for sure, as Tonda Eckert's men, despite going 1-0 down early on to the Lions, finished the breathless encounter as convincing 5-1 victors.

Man of the moment Cyle Larin, who had recently been labelled as the Championship's best striker, as per his manager, was unbelievably efficient in front of goal again, as the red-hot Canadian picked up a blistering brace during the statement win.

Larin's unbelievable form continues

Larin now has a deadly 12 goals across his last 19 games for the Saints, off the back of another clinical display in front of goal.

He would grab the crucial equaliser, after Mark Sykes opened the scoring for Neil's visitors, by guiding a confident header past Max Crocombe in the Millwall net.

It was a fantastic free-kick delivery from Ryan Manning, who has now followed up his penalty against Stoke City being tucked away, with an assist.

While his first of the day was typical of a marksman who always looks unflustered and cool in gilt-edged scoring positions, his second was far more stylish and audacious.

Indeed, he would flick a pass from Finn Azaz over a Millwall defender's head with ease, before volleying past the helpless Crocombe, who would be sick to death of the potent number nine come the full-time whistle.

The Brampton Bagsman is a man possessed for Eckert right now, with five goals from five games for 2026/27 so far.

But, he wasn't the only superb performer in attack, as the stern Millwall defence, who hadn't conceded across the last three games in all competitions before this sobering defeat, were left shellshocked by the Saints' spread out attacking prowess.

This other Saints star is also one of the league's best on his day

The goals just kept coming for Eckert and Co. on Saturday, with Tom Fellows even bagging his first ever strike for the South Coast giants, away from Larin stealing the limelight, to make it 5-1.

Fellows will want to kick on, but it was another winger at St. Mary's, away from the ex-West Bromwich Albion forward, who would receive a standing ovation when he was substituted off late on, and that was Leo Scienza.

He had started the season looking somewhat unsure, with zero goals across his first three games of the campaign, but after scoring the Saints' early opener in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night, he was back to his swashbuckling best against the dumbfounded away side.

He would toy with the Millwall defence for Southampton's second goal of the day, as he darted forward with a tricky run, before laying it off to Azaz - another sublime attacker Eckert has at his disposal - to tap home.

Daily Echo journalist Alfie House would simply state that Scienza needed to "take a bow" after his magical run forward handed the hosts the lead.

Amassing three key passes, and winning five duels, as well, the Brazilian was so lively throughout, and he managed to grab a goal, too, when he beat the Lions keeper from the spot coolly on the 55th minute mark.

So many overjoyed Southampton fans on social media would shower Scienza with praise when the 5-1 win was over, with Saints-focused writer Alex Comber going as far as to state that the ex-Heidenheim menace is "still the best left winger in the Championship."

He grabbed 17 goal contributions last season, and he's now off the mark this campaign in the second tier, after an unexpected stuttering start.

Both Scienza and Larin, on their day, can cause widespread havoc, even against a Championship defence regarded as one of the most diligent in the entire division, as Southampton responded to their 4-1 defeat to West Ham United in some style on Saturday afternoon.

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