Millwall traveled to Millwall last Saturday in the knowledge that it would take a very good performance to get a result. Although Saints were on a great run, with four wins coming on the bounce, Millwall were easily the best team that they had come up against under Tonda Eckert.
The interim manager brought Jack Stephens back into the side for Joshua Quarshie and replaced the suspended Flynn Downes with youngster Cameron Bragg. Léo Scienza, who had reported ill on Friday, was unable to play so in came Jay Robinson.
In fairness, Eckert had restricted options and, barring the decision to bring Stephens in for Quarshie, it was the starting eleven that most fans would have predicted themselves.
Millwall exploited two crystal clear flaws in Eckert's side
The Southampton players looked tired and predictable at the Den. Alex Neil's Millwall side went for the jugular and exposed both flaws.
Playing a 3-4-3 formation requires the wide midfielders to do the heavy lifting in transition. Both Tom Fellows and Ryan Manning showed willing, but were clearly tired in their third match of the week.
Without Léo Scienza in the team and his driving runs with the ball, Southampton found it difficult to turn defence into attack quickly enough to cause Millwall problems.
It was a surprise when Southampton took the lead through Adam Armstrong's well-taken penalty but an even bigger surprise when Joe Aribo replaced Jay Robinson just seven minutes later.
The three substitutions under scrutiny
Aribo's substitute appearances since Will Still threw him into the match against Preston North End, more in hope than expectation, have been appalling. When the stats back up what the eyes have seen from the stands, opinions solidify and lines in the sand are drawn. Joe Aribo was statistically the worst player on the pitch.
Of Southampton players who have featured for more than 90 minutes only Damion Downs has lower ratings than Joe Aribo so far this season.
At Millwall, he was clearly not the player to bring on to inject pace and energy. Instead, he strutted, challenged half-heartedly, and gave Millwall even greater impetus.
While the substitution of Tom Fellows with Ryan Fraser was more understandable, a change of shape might have been a better option. Southampton under Eckert were naiive on Saturday and they paid the price for not parking the bus. Where's Simon Rusk, when you actually need him?
Who should have stayed out of the lion's den was obvious
Then there's the Oriol Romeu for Cameron Bragg substitution. This was a substitution made for the sake of giving Romeu minutes. He was clearly not ready to be thrown into the 'lion's den' quite yet and the veteran would have benefitted from playing in a more comfortable scenario.
While the substitutions could be explained, if not condoned, the caretaker manager's misreading of Joe Aribo's performance was confounding to the point of being quite staggering.
“I am very happy with Joe. He has been excellent every time he has come on, and he is in very good shape.“
Did he not watch him at Millwall away?
— SaintsNeil ⚽️ Saints & FPL (@SaintsNeil) December 2, 2025
We conceded 3 goals once he came on, and he could have done better on all 3.
There are few images that capture a player's lack of bravery and commitment to the cause than the feature image of this piece. Now that the young German coach has analysed the match video, seen the photo, and reviewed the statistics, perhaps he feels differently. Saints fans will certainly hope so.
Eckert has been tipped to be named the permanent manager before the match against Birmingham City on Saturday. Perhaps now the board might wait until after Tuesday's home match against West Brom before they make their final decision.