Cameron Archer's winning goal means that Southampton are still very much in the automatic promotion hunt with three matches left to play this season.
The Saints' striker appears to have been taken under the wing of Southampton's loanee centre-forward, Cyle Larin. The Canadian's influence on Archer has arguably been as important as any of Larin's six goals for his adopted club.
The attributes that endear Larin to his teammates and fans
Larin's maturity is evident every time he pulls on a Southampton shirt, endlessly running the channels, holding up the ball, and dropping into defensive positions to help his team out.
These are the attributes of a player whose importance to the team extends way beyond goal contributions.
Off the pitch, Larin is a good family man and a superb role model to the younger players in the squad. He has clearly had a fatherly influence on Cameron Archer, who has arguably had his best week at the club since joining from Aston Villa in 2024.
Larin, who joined on loan from Spanish side RCD Mallorca in the January window, has fitted right in on the south coast.
The Canadian was a surprise replacement for top scorer Adam Armstrong, but his impact was immediate. Brought on as a substitute for his debut against Watford, the 31-year-old threw himself at a James Bree corner and headed in the winner in front of the home fans standing in the Northam End.
Tonda opens up on Larin's influence
Tonda Eckert shared his high opinion of Larin with the Daily Echo after the Saints had completed their comeback win over Swansea City on Saturday.
“Cyle brings so much experience. He's a proper grown man who came into the dressing room and fits right in.
“I've rarely ever seen somebody with that much experience and that much presence on the pitch, combined with so much humility off the pitch.
“He's an unbelievable character. He had his 31st birthday on Friday, and I think he's only getting better and better.
“He needed a couple of minutes to build himself up [today], and I would disagree with his impact because I think his impact today was outstanding.
“Sometimes it's just once that board goes up; it's also what you transmit to your teammates. Everyone is just so happy to have him on the pitch.
“He played his first 90 on Tuesday with an unbelievable output. So I think excellent development for him so far.
“I'm sure that he will have a big impact for Canada as well at the World Cup. It's really been fantastic over the last few months to have him around.“
While Cyle Larin may not be a player that Southampton signs on a permanent basis, his contribution to the club's nineteen-match unbeaten run cannot be overstated.
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