Tonda Eckert could have his own José Fonte & Toby Alderweireld partnership at Southampton

Southampton had to dig deep to beat their South Coast enemies Portsmouth 1-0 on Sunday.

The Saints, who have been known this season to pummel teams with their immense attacking quality, had to roll their sleeves up to secure a gritty 1-0 victory over Pompey, owing to Cameron Bragg being sent off right before the half-time break.

Even James Bree, who scored the decisive goal to clinch the win, would do his required dirty work, with the ex-Luton Town full-back not just content with his goalscoring moment in the spotlight, as the tireless number 14 won eight tackles and duels come the full-time whistle.

In the heart of defence, Tonda Eckert might even have his own Jose Fonte and Toby Alderweireld style centre-back partnership forming, with the Saints legend, and the Belgian, forming a staunch duo in the South Coast backline during the 2014/15 season.

Fonte & Alderweireld's Saints partnership

The Southampton captain, and his 6-foot-1 counterpart, would only cross paths for one single Premier League season, but they certainly left a lasting impression.

Indeed, as a duo, they would collect five clean sheets from their first ten Premier League outings together, with shutouts at St. Mary's - like the one just picked up against John Mousinho's visitors - becoming commonplace.

Wins against Arsenal and Manchester United that same campaign were built on defensive solidity, as the Saints beat the Gunners on home soil 2-0, and then travelled to Old Trafford and did a 1-0 job on the Red Devils.

Fonte would stand out as the more combative option of the two defenders, as the number six regularly wore the captain's armband with pride.

Fonte & Alderweireld's Premier League numbers together:

On the other hand, Alderweireld was more known as a passer from out the back, who could handle himself in a duel, as well, with the Belgian going on to play for Tottenham Hotspur, past his memorable one season stint at St. Mary's.

Alderweireld would praise the "great team spirit" the Saints had during these times back in 2015, as while there were some sublime attackers in the team - such as Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic - the rock-solid defence gave Ronald Koeman and Co. a very stable foundation to build from.

Luckily, Eckert had a strong spine at his disposal during the testing South Coast Derby, with a new Fonte and Alderweireld alliance brewing in the here and now, potentially.

Eckert could have his own version

Amazingly, it would take until the fourth Premier League match-day of the season before this duo was utilised by Koeman.

In the present day, nine matches into the hustle and bustle of the fresh Championship campaign, Eckert trialled a new defensive partnership in Jack Stephens and Keven Schlotterbeck against Pompey, and this decision worked a treat.

Stephens is definitely more of a Fonte-style character, as he has been in and around the Saints first tem ranks for several years, now, and he wore the armband with pride for the South Coast Derby.

Like Fonte, as well, he always wears his heart firmly on his sleeve, with one crucial shot blocked during the second half, when Pompey were piling the pressure on, trying to make their man advantage count.

Schlotterbeck wasn't afraid, either, to get stuck in, but his 58 accurate passes come the full-time whistle makes him stand out as more of an Alderweireld-like presence, with the German also the new kid on the block, having left Augsburg behind this summer.

He has instantly fit in, too, much like the now retired 37-year-old managed in 2014, as a much-deserved clean sheet came Eckert and Co's way due to this dyad standing firm throughout.

Eckert could persist with this partnership going forward, as the 1-0 shutout of Pompey was their first Championship clean sheet of the season, with more nervy and tough games heading their way this season, as promotion is chased after.

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