Southampton: Tonda Eckert breaks silence on Wrexham's Spygate dig | OneFootball

The Red Dragons released a pre-match video imitating Saints' Spygate actions

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert has reacted to the pre-match Spygate dig produced by his side's upcoming opponents, Wrexham, on Saturday afternoon.

Unsurprisingly, the fallout of Saints' antics, which came to light during their play-off campaign in last season's Championship, has become the brunt of several chants and parodies from opposition supporters and clubs in the social media sphere, as well as in the stands.

The South Coast side were punished heavily by the EFL back in May, being expelled from the play-off final at the expense of Middlesbrough after admitting to multiple rule breaches, having also 'spied on Oxford United and Ipswich Town.

Southampton also entered the current campaign in unprecedented circumstances as a result of Spygate, as they were also served with a four-point deduction at the beginning of the season, but despite this, Eckert's side were heavily fancied to make the play-offs.

Such a deficit has already been wiped out due to the club's early-season form, although it remains to be seen whether Eckert will still be in charge the other side of the international break.

Tonda Eckert responds as Wrexham produce viral Southampton, Spygate pre-match dig

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Southampton and Wrexham, of course, were several divisions apart just a few short years ago, but are now both seen as potential promotion material to the Premier League.

The Red Dragons' journey has been well-documented due to the high-profile investment supplied by Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, having gone from the National League to the Championship in a three-year period before finishing seventh last season.

In the off-season, Wrexham partnered with internet browser, Firefox, which also specialises in browsing security, with the company becoming the club's front-of-shirt sponsor.

Whilst promoting the company, Reynolds and Mac took the opportunity to produce a Spygate-esque video, which also referenced Middlesbrough, Ipswich and Oxford as a result of Southampton's off-pitch misdemeanours.

Asked if he had seen the clip before his side's journey to North Wales, Eckert said: "The players have watched it. I've seen it last night. It doesn't change anything.

"You can imagine that the whole situation is not particularly funny for me, but I think that's all there is to say," he added.

Southampton fans react to Wrexham's Spygate social media dig

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Unsurprisingly, there were many Saints fans, who, like Eckert, weren't exactly amused by Wrexham's social media antics.

"I can’t wait to put 5 past you again, cringey lot you," wrote one Southampton supporter.

Another said: "Imagine your club owners doing this. Embarrassing."

With Wrexham currently ten places below Eckert's side, one Saints fan, with a picture of the league table, stated: Mind the gap guys. Maybe you should spy it might save your season."

"I’ll come back when Larin nets the fourth on Saturday," warned another supporter who was unimpressed by the North Wales side's post.

Meanwhile, some of a Wrexham persuasion weren't behind the decision, with one comment reading: "Why are we writing Southampton's team talk for them?"

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Given the pre-match sideshow which has been created, Southampton's players would most likely be even more fuelled in their aim of three points heading into the international break.

Although a final FA decision over Eckert's future is likely to come between now and the South Coast derby with Portsmouth on October 11th, the German, at present, can only control what happens on the pitch, and it has certainly been a positive start to the season for Saints.

The aforementioned Larin has issued a rather bold claim about the strength of the side whilst starting his own campaign in another rich vein of form with seven goals in as many games.

And after as many goals overall in their past two games, Southampton will certainly feel there is a strong opportunity to replicate their dominant 5-1 success at the Racecourse Ground back in April, with Wrexham suffering a 6-0 loss at West Ham United last Friday.