There was a strange feeling ahead of this game, with Tonda Eckert now appointed as the permanent replacement for Will Still there was that feeling of impending doom that Saints fans seem to get too often these days, but we needn't have worried.

After the setback at Millwall last week it was important that we got back to winning ways against Birmingham City, defeat would have seen the sceptics out in full force on social media decrying Sport Republic for appointing such an inexperienced manager and it would have also seen us fall back further from the play off spots.

The team news saw no real surprises, back in came Flynn Downes & Leo Scienza so the hope was the flowing football that stuttered at the New Den would return.

We could not have got off to a better start when Finn Azaz scored his 6th goal of the season for Saints, all of them under Tonda Eckert's 6 games so far in charge, in the 6th minute of the game, firing home after a neat little run across the edge of the box.

Adam Armstrong doubled the lead on 24 minutes and gave Saints the impetus in the game.

The visitors had there moments but we were good value for money at the break.

We started the second half well, but it was Birmingham who scored the first goal of the half, again like at Millwall it was a screamer into the top corner leaving Bazunu no chance and you wondered whether we might lose our shape and collapse as we did last week.

That seemed to stir Saints back into life and when Leo Scienza saw his shot parried out by the keeper, Adam Armstrong pounced to show a true strikers instinct and fire home the rebound.

Birmingham kept going though as we had to ride our luck at times, but in the main we kept it tight and disciplined with Eckert bringing on fresh legs at the right time.

Once again Eckert showed that he thinks about the game, when he gets his sides in a winning position, he keeps the focus on staying in that position and keeping it won, he makes good substitutions and he made them with one eye on Tuesday's game against West Brom, resting key players such as Armstrong, Azaz, Fellows & Scienza, all who had put in good performances, to ensure they would be fresh for the next game, not only that but keeping those on the fringes of the team at the moment involved and giving them game time.

It was also good to see Oriol Romeu back on the St Mary's pitch in a Saints shirt, his experience helped us ensure that the final minutes were not anxious ones.

The crowd stayed behind the team and in the dying minutes Tonda Eckert endeared himself to the fans even more when he volleyed the ball after his came into his technical area, right into the stands, the yellow card was inevitable, but the cheers from the St Mary's faithful were rousing.

So there is not a lot that can be said that is negative about this performance, although as you might have seen yourself there are still some that find something to complain about.

But 5 wins out of 6 games from Eckert is beyond everyone's expectations and it has moves us back up the table and within 3 points of the final play off spot, hopefully we can take another big step on Tuesday and follow that up by a win at Norwich.

This has been an important week for Southampton FC, the mood in the fans has started to rocket, phrases like "We have our football back" are prevalent on social media and there is a real feeling that we can keep this good form up with the strong squad that we have.

But off the pitch we have shown leadership, Johannes Spors could have taken the easy option and placated the fans with a more household name experienced manager, but he stuck to his guns and made the appointment he saw as the right one.

There is now hope in the fanbase that Spors & Sport Republic can now start to get things back on track again.

So another enjoyable day out at St Mary's, a feeling that we had all forgotten over the last few years, but 3 straight home wins and 9 goals scored whilst doing so, have shown that we have a squad that can play attacking entertaining football, throughout the first part of the season, I believed that we have the best squad in the division and now I am being proved right.

It is a wonderful sight to see players such as Adam Armstrong, Tom Fellows, Finn Azaz, Leo Scienza, Caspar Jander, Gavin Bazunu & Ryan Manning, all of whom were under fire from some sections of the crowd in the early part of the season and in some cases looked shadows of the players they had been, start to flourish.

There will be days like at Millwall, but I think under Tonda Eckert we are very capable of achieving the aim of a swift return to the Premier League.

All Photos Via Reuters

Colburn added 01:15 - Dec 8 I hope Tonda will at some point tell them to stop letting the crosses in to the box. It is no wonder we can’t keep clean sheets when the defence has to deal with so many balls in to the box, as well as the other ways they are put under pressure. If you stop the crosses the opposition can only go from side to side. Another win against a decent well organised team. I am usually a fan of getting a 3 goal lead before taking the foot of the gas but as we quickly restored the 2 goal lead then we avoided a nervy second half. If we win the next 2 then we are right back in business.

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landsdownsaint added 09:48 - Dec 8 Scienza , Jander, Fellowes & Azzaz , great signings by Sporrs … never thought I’d say that .
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underweststand added 10:28 - Dec 8 This might be a model of the "standard home win" in future. Scienza and Fellows continue terrifying opposition defences - despite not actually scoring. (How many times has Leo hit the woodwork this season ?). Armstrong back in the goals despite his deep-lying CF role, and Azaz is becoming the player that no-one could ever have hoped for. There are still shortcomings in parts of the game but as long as we continue to get one goal more than the opposition the points will push us up towards the top six. Tonda (of course he should have got the job) has created a winning formula WITHOUT the talent that is still on the bench, AND those names still gradually returning from injury -not to mention a couple more who are on loan / out of the picture at present. However, this side is still lacking "the bite" required to get promotion, and so it will be of real interest to see what the squad will look like by the end of the January window, and if it will make us good enough to return at the first attempt ..and survive.

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SaintPaulVW added 11:33 - Dec 8 Whilst we are now a real constant attacking threat from several positions, Fellows is surely due a fantastic goal soon from the runs he makes, our defence still needs work if we want to take on the top teams. I still don't understand why we seem to be unable to control the ball more in the second half and game manage rather than just sitting back and inviting endless crosses into our box. Even a maligned player like Archer played his part when he got hold of the ball late on and ran into the Birmingham half to relieve the pressure that we were under. From a technically gifted side like ours I don't understand why we seem to have no out ball for such long periods. COYR

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Bowlercow added 11:37 - Dec 8 It is so good going to a game feeling like we can get something out of it The starting 11 are almost picking thereselves again Birmingham were arguably the best team we have seen at SMS this season and they never let their heads drop Fellows needs a goal He should have had one on Saturday but rattled the bar I loved the little wave by Scienza when he was playing draught excluder I still prefer a back four7 which would cut out some of the crosses but letting the crosses come into a packed box hasn't caused too many problems A word for Bazuna That save with his legs from a deflected shot perhaps shows that his reflexes are sharpening up Win the next 2 and I think we will be in a play off spot Another bonus was seeing Coventry lose

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bryanK added 11:57 - Dec 8 I throughly enjoyed the game lots of chances at both ends. My only concern is defensively particularly down the left where Manning for all the positive aspects of his game he remains a liability as a defender. He really needs to improve this side of his game. It appears the Manager is sold on 5 at the back, however I would prefer 4 4 2 with two solid full backs enabling Fellows to play further forward. This in no way a moan as I am like previously mentioned enjoying the much higher entertainment value

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Farlow added 12:28 - Dec 8 I Would prefer to see Wellington at left back as he,s got a touch of class.Mannings good going forwards but defensively hes poor.
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SanMarco added 13:41 - Dec 8 I am happy. We look good going forward and I think we can look forward to a high league placing. Our weaknesses are are at the back. There are inevitable occasions (e.g. Millwall) when we have an off day going forward. Those are the days when the defence earns its money. To go up (and certainly to then have with any hope of staying up) we need to strengthen the defence in January. Do that and then who knows?!!!

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davidargyll added 14:36 - Dec 8 A word of praise I think is overdue for THB. I have been on his back for quite a while because up to now he has been looking pretty lethargic for a lot of this season. But on Saturday I lost count of the number of times he towered over everyone when an oppo corner came in and headed it away: a very comforting sight. So well done Taylor! not listening to your father-in-law were you by any chance?!)

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A1079 added 15:46 - Dec 8 I am just pleased to be enjoying football and watching Saints again. Do I expect us to win every game - No and I never did. But even when we lose games like Millwall last week we were still in it. Whether we get into the play off's or promotion is not something I am bothered with right now. One step at a time. We are far from being the polished article and there are flaws but I can cope with that when the football we are watching is both entertaining and competitive.

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highfield49 added 18:43 - Dec 8 I reckon Scienza is the best wide player we've had at the club since Dusan Tadic. And what a tactical and technical joy to see Armstrong dropping into the centre circle to play those first time passes out wide. To think how many coaches we've had in place recently who have strangled player's ability, Eckert is a breath of fresh air. Fellows is an absolute nightmare for full backs and Aziz is oozing confidence. Still a long way to go and we may struggle at times against physical team like Millwall, but Millwall will give problems to a lot of good teams this season. As Nick has frequently stated, the squad has strength in depth and the core is looking like they want to play for the coach rather than be a whipping boys for the coach's inflexibility and lack of vision. Keep plugging away lads.

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