Southampton surge under Tonda Eckert keeps automatic promotion within reach | OneFootball

Southampton’s surge under Tonda Eckert continued on Tuesday as they climbed to fourth in the Championship, their highest position this season. They are three points behind second-placed Ipswich, reviving belief in a Premier League return.

Portsmouth’s 2-0 win over Ipswich at Fratton Park helped the cause, although Eckert offered a different take. “No, I think we have done them a big favour today. Strong south coast today, huh?” he told the BBC.

Back in March, St Mary’s cheered when Portsmouth were thrashed 6-1 by QPR. On Tuesday, it cheered a Pompey win over Saints’ promotion rivals, a sign that the top two feels within reach.

Regardless of events elsewhere, Southampton still had to beat Blackburn, who had conceded only twice in their previous five games. A polished display delivered a seventh straight win in all competitions, their first such run since February 1981.

The unbeaten streak now stands at 18 matches and the midweek results lifted their top-two probability from less than half a per cent in November to 10 per cent. Ipswich visit St Mary’s later this month.

“The squad, at the moment, is in a place where you can put on who you want to put on, they are all ready to perform.” Four cup finals remain as they try to turn momentum into promotion.

Source: Sainstmarching.com