Southampton are surging toward a return to the Premier League, riding a 17-game unbeaten run in all competitions that has catapulted them from 21st in the Championship to fifth. The turnaround has been nothing short of extraordinary, fueled by the appointment of head coach Tonda Eckert after former boss Will Still was sacked in early November.
Midfielder Tom Fellows, who has featured in 15 of those 17 unbeaten matches, credits Eckert's tactical obsession and man-management skills for the revival. "He's very tactical, very detailed, obsessed with the game. He's also a very good man-manager," Fellows told BBC Radio Solent. "It's that balance which is why we've done so well. A breath of fresh air."
The Saints have accumulated 36 points since their last loss to Hull City in January, a run that has put automatic promotion firmly within reach. Fellows, who has contributed three assists but is still searching for his first goal of the season, insists he's focused on the bigger picture. "Sometimes I'm more interested in the general performance," he said. "I think some of my best games have been when I haven't scored, I haven't assisted."
Southampton host Blackburn Rovers tonight in a match that could bring them even closer to the automatic promotion places. Fellows acknowledged the challenge of facing a side battling relegation, noting that desperation brings extra intensity. "We've got to match that and we're fighting for something; got our own goals," he said. A win would mark another step in one of the Championship's most dramatic second-half surges this season.
