{"id":1443396,"date":"2026-04-15T16:20:35","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T15:20:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&p=1443396"},"modified":"2026-04-16T10:08:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T09:08:36","slug":"tactical-analysis-southampton-tonda-eckert-automatic-promotion-2026","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/tactical-analysis-southampton-tonda-eckert-automatic-promotion-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Southampton analysis: How Tonda Eckert has Saints dreaming of automatic promotion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert took an incredible unbeaten run and turned it into an unbelievable win streak across all competitions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has now been a whopping 18 games since the Saints’ last defeat in either the Championship or FA Cup, since Hull City beat them in January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They did once go 25 matches without a loss under Russell Martin, between September 2023 and February 2024. But the current run feels more impressive given the level of performances and opponents beaten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At no point in that span did Southampton win more than four consecutive games. Now, they have won each of their last seven across all competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it includes a 2-1 win over Premier League leaders Arsenal of all teams. Of course, Mikel Arteta’s men were facing a tough spell when that loss came, but their poor form isn’t as large as the gap in squad quality and investment between both sides.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    It was an incredible feat and Eckert’s Saints will now play Manchester City in the semi final at Wembley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Not only that, but automatic promotion now feels like a possibility for the fans. This was unthinkable back in early November, when Southampton were 20th, just three points clear of the relegation zone with two wins from 13 games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Or even in mid-January, following a four-match losing streak that left them in 16th — closer to the bottom three (four points) than the play-off spots (10 points).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And yet, it might happen. It’s still a long shot, since they are fourth and second-placed Ipswich Town have a game in hand. But Kieran McKenna’s men did just lose to Portsmouth and their match to play is precisely against Southampton. It could get interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    #<\/th>Team<\/th>MP<\/th>W-D-L<\/th>PTS<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    1<\/td>Coventry<\/td>42<\/td>25-10-7<\/td>85<\/td><\/tr>
    2<\/td>Ipswich<\/td>41<\/td>21-12-8<\/td>75<\/td><\/tr>
    3<\/td>Millwall<\/td>42<\/td>21-10-11<\/td>73<\/td><\/tr>
    4<\/strong><\/td>Southampton<\/strong><\/td>42<\/strong><\/td>20-12-10<\/strong><\/td>72<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    5<\/td>Middlesbrough<\/td>42<\/td>20-12-10<\/td>72<\/td><\/tr>
    6<\/td>Hull<\/td>42<\/td>20-8-14<\/td>68<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    How has Tonda Eckert improved an already in-form Southampton side?<\/h2>