The surprise Southampton stars who have made this team of the season | OneFootball

Three Southampton players have been named in FotMob’s team of the season, reflecting a revival under Tonda Eckert. Sainstmarching.com notes that the mood on the South Coast has flipped after a bleak start.

Early on, the relegation hangover seemed set to smother their Championship campaign. Southampton won only two of their opening 13 league matches under Will Still, and St Mary’s turned toxic.

Eckert’s arrival has been the catalyst, his side taking 15 wins from 26 games. A 2-0 home victory over Oxford United just before the international break sent supporters into the break in good spirits and handed the Saints a two-week rest.

The team of the season, based on average ratings by position across the division, includes Leo Scienza at left wing. The Brazilian has six goals and eight assists, and Southampton have kept their unbeaten run going despite his injury absence.

Defensive improvements underpin the other selections. After conceding 86 during relegation, the Saints have let in only 48, with Ryan Manning taking the left-back slot and Taylor Harwood-Bellis chosen at centre-back. Manning has six goals and four assists, and showed his steel with eight combined tackles and duels against Oxford.

Harwood-Bellis entered the season off the back of a bruising drop, yet he has been a rock, winning 17 duels across March as Southampton allowed only one league goal. He has been hailed as a different player to the one who looked beaten when relegation was confirmed by his manager. The recognition is welcome, but the focus remains on sealing promotion.

Source: Sainstmarching.com