Eckert declares Saints "as ready as you can be" for play-offs

Saints signed off the regular season with a 3-1 win at Preston on Saturday, a result that extended their unbeaten run in league matches to 19.

Backed by around 5,500 travelling fans who embarked on the 500-mile round trip to Deepdale, Eckert feels his team are in a strong position ahead of a two-legged semi-final against Middlesbrough.

“We need that now more than ever,” he said of Saints’ sensational support. “We will do everything on the pitch and I am sure that the supporters will do everything from the stands, and us together as a unit is going to be tough to stop this year.

“The boys are ready. The boys are as ready as you can be, we now have two days off to recharge physically, mentally, and then we go fully against Middlesbrough.”

Eckert described the play-offs as “a completely new competition” and believes other teams will be wary of his side’s impressive form that also saw Saints reach the Emirates FA Cup semi-finals.

“I think there are not many teams that want to face us at this very moment, and that’s credit to the performance of the boys week in, week out,” he added.

“The campaign is over now so it’s a completely new competition that starts over the next three games. We make sure that we are ready now.”