The Tigers will be looking for a triple run of success against Southampton under the arch
Tonda Eckert and Sergej Jakirovic at St Mary’s in January(Image: Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Under-fire Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert admits facing Hull City in the Championship play-off final at Wembley next Saturday will be a significant challenge.
City secured their place in the world’s biggest game of football with a comfortable 2-0 win at Millwall on Monday night, while the Saints needed extra-time to beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at St Mary’s on Tuesday night.
Their semi-final with Boro was overshadowed by allegations of spying from the South Coast club, who have not denied it, and were charged by the EFL with an investigation ongoing and the game under some element of doubt until the results of an independent commission are known.
Those doubts aside, Southampton are unbeaten in their last 21 league games after seeing off Boro, with their last defeat coming at home to Sergej Jakirovic’s side in January.
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That deserved success, thanks to goals from Kyle Joseph and Charlie Hughes, saw City complete the league double over the side relegated from the Premier League 12 months ago. A dominant Tigers side led 3-0 going into stoppage time at the MKM Stadium in September, before Adam Armstrong netted a late consolation for Saints, then managed by Will Still.
Eckert was also complimentary about the Tigers’ team spirit, cultivated by Jakirovic and his staff following his arrival last summer, and so key to their success this term.
“We’ve watched both of their games now and just a very manly team, I spoke to the manager here after the game that they’ve won, and he just spoke about the character of the squad that they have,” the German told Sky Sports. “I think you’ve seen this over many moments of the season, how tight they are as a group, and I think they deserve to be there, and that’s going to be a big, big challenge.”
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