Tonda Eckert takes heart from past Southampton fightbacks in promotion bid | OneFootball

Southampton conclude pre-season with belief high as Tonda Eckert prepares for a promotion push despite a four point deduction from the Spygate case. The Saints begin at Colchester United in the EFL Cup this weekend, before turning back to the Championship.

According to Sainstmarching.com, confidence in Eckert’s camp is sky high, with Flynn Downes saying he believes the South Coast club can win the title over the 46-game slog.

Recent history offers a template. The 2008-09 campaign ended in relegation, a 23rd-place finish despite David McGoldrick scoring 14 in all competitions. Administration then left them starting League One with a 10 point penalty, yet Alan Pardew’s side won 23 of 46 and, fuelled by Rickie Lambert’s goals, lifted the EFL Trophy while missing the play-offs by seven points.

The following season brought automatic promotion, Lambert hitting 21 league goals. Eckert will draw on that rocky, reassuring spell as he urges his dented group to rise back into contention.

An expanded play-off format means teams finishing third to eighth will qualify next season, so seventh would make the cut. With Cyle Larin and Daniel Peretz still available after last season’s play-off run, the points sanction could quickly fade if a league-opening win against Watford is secured and August yields more results.

There is clear appetite to return to the Premier League, and the club have recovered from League One before.

Source: Sainstmarching.com

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