Three home games offer Southampton chance to reset after false start | OneFootball

Southampton have a swift chance to correct a false start, with three home games after the opening-day defeat at Watford.

Daily Echo notes Tonda Eckert’s side started on minus four after Spygate sanctions, seven points off second. He speaks Friday before Stoke visit on Saturday, which opens the run.

The first half at Vicarage Road was calamitous, two goals gifted from errors and no shot on target. After the break they created enough, but Cyle Larin and, notably, Harwood-Bellis missed big chances.

Eckert will project calm with 135 points still available, but he knows his initial set-up misfired and is ready to adjust. Finn Azaz, back from a pre-season shin issue, will reach at least 60 minutes this weekend. Leo Scienza will return to the left, with Kuryu Matsuki, Lewis Dobbin and Tom Fellows competing on the right.

A fitness update on Caspar Jander is expected, though he is unlikely to start after his Eastleigh injury. Flynn Downes and Cam Bragg could pair again. Daniel Peretz and Larin remain first picks, while Jack Stephens is vying with Nathan Wood but may keep his place.

Home games with Stoke and Millwall, split by West Ham in the cup, offer a reset. With Ross Stewart and Charles out but most of a group that went 21 unbeaten intact, Stoke, who have lost every away game since the start of February, present an opportunity.

Source: Daily Echo

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